The IITB-Monash Research Academy hosted its annual Convocation and Excellence Awards Ceremony on 24th August 2024 at Hotel Meluha The Fern, Powai. The event marked a momentous occasion where the Academy celebrated the achievements of its graduating scholars and honoured outstanding contributions from faculty and researchers.
The ceremony was graced by eminent personalities from academia and industry, alongside esteemed faculty from IIT Bombay and Monash University. Supervisors, research collaborators, and family members of the graduates were also present, adding to the celebratory spirit of the evening.
The event commenced with the traditional Academic Procession, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the graduates. Mr. M.S. Unnikrishnan, CEO of the Academy, delivered the Welcome Address. He warmly welcomed the esteemed guests, faculty members, and graduating students, reflecting on the Academy's achievements over the years and the importance of the collaborative efforts between IIT Bombay and Monash University. Following this, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, the Director of IIT Bombay, the Honourable Mr. Peter Young AM KC, the Deputy Chancellor of Monash University, and Prof. Sharon Pickering, the Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University delivered inspiring addresses, including the Conferment Address.
The ceremonial proceedings continued with the announcement of the IITB pledge by the Dean of Academic Programs, IIT Bombay. The handing over of degrees was conducted by the Director of IIT Bombay, the Deputy Chancellor of Monash University, and the Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University. This year, 20 students from diverse fields were conferred their PhD degrees. Several of these graduates have already embarked on promising careers in academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.
The Convocation ceremony was followed by the Excellence Awards Ceremony, where we celebrated student achievements with awards like the 3MT Competition Awards, Poster Presentation Awards, Publication Awards which highlighted the depth of talent within the Academy.
The Awards Ceremony was hosted by Laya Vijayan and Sudarshan Rangarajan, who set the tone for an evening filled with recognition and celebration. Prof. Prasanna Gandhi, the Academy’s Professor-in-Charge, delivered the opening address, followed by presentation of the various awards.
A highlight of the evening was the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition awards, recognizing outstanding research presentations by PhD students. The winners were:
First Position: Kushagra Tiwari, supervised by Prof. Alankar Alankar (IIT Bombay), Prof. Raman Singh, and Prof. Rhys Jones (Monash University).
Second Position: Ms. Lekshmi Eswaramoorthy, supervised by Prof. Anshuman Kumar (IIT Bombay) and Prof. Sudha Mokkapati (Monash University).
Third Position: Mr. Krunal Tulsawadekar, supervised by Prof. Vikram Vishal (IIT Bombay) and Prof. Ranjith PG (Monash University).
Following the awards, the audience was treated to research presentations by the 3MT winners and an address by the Australian Consul General, Mr. Paul Murphy, who highlighted the growing collaboration between India and Australia.
The evening also featured musical performances by Prof. Arpita Mondal and students Aakash and Keerthiga, adding a touch of artistry to the scholarly atmosphere.
The Poster Competition Awards were another key segment, with accolades given in two categories:
Best Poster Award - Junior Research Students: Shashank Shukla, supervised by Prof. Yogendra Shastri (IIT Bombay) and Prof. Andrew Hoadley (Monash University).
Best Poster Award - Senior Research Students: Shivali Patkar, supervised by Prof. Prakriti Tayalia (IIT Bombay) and Prof. Anne Fletcher (Monash University).
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Best Thesis Award, the most anticipated honour of the evening, which was awarded to Anup Kumar Prasad for his outstanding research supervised by Prof. Ajay Singh Panwar (IIT Bombay) and Prof. Lisandra Martin (Monash University).
The Academy extends its gratitude to all sponsors, including Coromandel International, Applied Materials, Urjanovac, Nugenomics, Tree Green Solutions, and Ostic Pharma, for their generous support of the awards. The evening ended with a warm thank you to all attendees and a celebratory dinner, marking the successful culmination of the Academy’s annual celebration of academic excellence.
The Convocation and Excellence Awards Ceremony 2024 truly reflected the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and excellence that defines the IITB-Monash Research Academy. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the graduates and award winners and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.
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