IIT Madras felicitates alumni, student achievers on 64th Institute Day

Rupesh Nasre, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Nagabhushana Rao Vadlamani, Department of Aerospace Engineering, were jointly selected for the ‘Srimathi Marti Annapurna Gurunath Award for Excellence in Teaching’ for 2022-23. 

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras celebrated its 64th Institute Day on April 20, 2023, with students, faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff. Sridhar Vembu, Founder and CEO, Zoho Corporation and a Distinguished Alumnus Awardee of IIT Madras, was the chief guest of the occasion. 

Delivering the presidential address, Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Under the IoE Grants from the Government of India, we have granted more than 75 interdisciplinary projects were funded in Round 1, each to a tune of INR 2 crore on an average, to enable exploration of different proposed areas by the respective groups. As an outcome, 15 IoE centres of excellence in niche areas of research are to be set up at a funding of INR 15 crore each. In addition, around 20 IoE centres with a funding of INR 5 crore each and 15 IoE projects with a funding of INR 2 crore shall be supported.” 

Prof Kamakoti said, “A team of 72 students from IIT Madras are working on the Hyperloop project, which aims to set up Asia’s first 500 metre test track on the IIT Madras Discovery campus.” 

Presenting the student report, the outgoing Students General Secretary, Ajay Singh Sitole said the Student Mentorship Cell of IIT Madras received a record-breaking response in excess of 300 mentors for freshers for a smooth induction into institute life. The mentors are in constant touch with the mentees and act as the primary points of contact for mentees. 

Awards and recognitions 

Several recognitions were presented on the occasion. These include the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) presented to Prof Viswanathan Kumaran, IISc Bengaluru, for the year 2020. Rupesh Nasre, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Nagabhushana Rao Vadlamani, Department of Aerospace Engineering, were jointly selected for the ‘Srimathi Marti Annapurna Gurunath Award for Excellence in Teaching’ for 2022-23. This award is based on an endowment by IIT Madras alumnus, Prof Marti Subrahmanyam, Stern School of Business, New York University.  

The Institute Research and Development Awards (IRDA) were introduced in 2013-14 to encourage excellence in research. Prof RI Sujith, Department of Aerospace Engineering, was presented the ‘Lifetime Achievement Research Award of IIT Madras’. He received an institute colloquium and be designated as ‘Institute Professor’. He has been invited to teach and take on research scholars from various departments.  The award carries a grant of INR 50 lakh, to be operated as a project. The Mid-Career Research and Development Award, which carries a grant of INR 40 lakh, the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2023, were also presented to several alumni of IIT Madras. 

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