In The Spotlight
Insights from the German Chancellor: A Discussion on Leadership, Diplomacy, and Policy
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was on a bilateral visit to India, and during his time in Goa, he decided to make a special stop at our campus, providing students with a unique opportunity to interact with a prominent world leader.
The chancellor was welcomed with a loud round of applause as he walked into the library with a few other dignitaries. He was greeted by the president of the CSA, Sanmay Angaitkar who opened up the floor for questions by asking about the changes we can expect in the educational sector due to the Indo-German relations which have been forged by this visit. The chancellor replied that India and Germany are collaborating in many different fields like security, renewable energy, and IT, and he implies that the continual growth in these respective fields could perhaps affect other fields like education as well. The students posed questions which covered a wide range of topics like politics, sports and life in general.
In a recent exchange with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, students had the rare opportunity to delve into the perspectives of one of the world’s most influential leaders. Throughout the discussion, the Chancellor addressed questions on diplomacy, humanitarian aid, leadership qualities, and the role of policy in driving Germany's reputation for engineering and innovation. Chancellor Scholz highlighted the importance of trust and preparedness when entering negotiations, especially in challenging discussions with world leaders and prominent industrialists. The key, he shared, lies in building trust—even when disagreements arise—since trust fosters mutual respect and paves the way for successful outcomes.
When asked about managing dissent within his country, Scholz drew from his extensive experience as both a lawyer and a politician. His background in law helped shape his approach to public service, instilling in him a commitment to upholding the trust placed in him by the people. This gratitude, he noted, continually reinforces his dedication to addressing the needs of the German populace.
Addressing the complexities of coalition politics, Scholz remarked on the role of compromise as a cornerstone of democracy. In his words, coalition governance, while sometimes challenging, represents the art of balancing diverse viewpoints to formulate cohesive policy—a skill he’s honed over his years of political leadership.
Questions also emerged on how Germany has nurtured its reputation in engineering and design. Scholz attributed Germany’s success to significant policy-driven investments in research and development. He shared that around 3% of Germany’s GDP is channelled toward advancements in technology, science, and engineering. This level of investment, he emphasized, is crucial to sustaining long-term innovation and achieving global recognition. On the topic of humanitarian values and the challenges of navigating complex international crises, Scholz highlighted Germany’s commitment to international law and humanitarian aid. In addressing varied approaches to crises in Ukraine and Gaza, he noted the distinct challenges posed by different actors. Scholz underscored that Germany advocates for diplomacy as the primary means of resolving conflicts while supporting international law as the foundation for global stability.
In closing, a personal question about his life’s purpose prompted a reflective response. Scholz noted that, above all, his focus is on living a life rooted in compassion and treating others with respect and fairness, a philosophy that underscores his approach to leadership. Through this insightful dialogue, the Chancellor’s responses painted a picture of a leader committed to diplomacy, policy-driven innovation, and humanitarian principles. His perspective offers a valuable lesson in leadership and a roadmap for nations and individuals striving to make a meaningful impact on the global stage.
To relive the moments from this remarkable visit, click to view the video
BITS Exclusive
World Mental Health Day
BITS Pilani Goa Campus organizes a session on mental health
In honour of World Mental Health Day, which was celebrated on October 10, 2024, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - Goa Campus organized a thought-provoking session with MPOWER on mental health. The theme "It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace" resonated with the staff, faculty, and administration members. This is how this workshop emphasized prioritizing self, accepting ourselves, and developing a supporting workplace where the well-being of employees' minds comes first. Together, we strive to be a culture of care and compassion for our community members.
This insightful session was possible thanks to Prof. Suman Kundu, Director BITS Pilani – K.K. Birla Goa Campus, and Prof. Meenal Kowshik, Dean of Administration, and the campus thanks them for their presence and support during this thoughtful session. Our gratitude also goes to the HR team, Medical centre, and MPOWER officials for organizing such an engaging and impactful event, emphasizing mental health's importance in the workplace.
Research Stories
BITS-Pilani Hyderabad researchers’ new device can detect dangerous bacteria in just 15 minutes
Researchers at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, have developed a miniaturized device that can rapidly detect harmful bacteria, including ‘Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’, which causes severe infections such as pneumonia and cystic fibrosis. The innovative technology can deliver results in just 15 minutes and it is set to transform how hospitals and clinics diagnose bacterial infections, informed Dean of Research & Innovation and co-lead researcher Sanket Goel.
“Our device is small, affordable and designed for quick, on-site testing, particularly in resource-constrained settings, unlike current bacterial detection methods are slow and often require sophisticated lab equipment,” he said in a press release. The device employs ‘Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA)’, a technique that operates at lower temperatures and does not require expensive thermal cycling equipment. A built-in photometric detection system can identify trace amounts of DNA from various bacteria,” said Associate Professor and Co-lead Researcher Satish Kumar Dubey.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. K V G Chandra Sekhar
We are honoured to announce that Prof. K V G Chandra Shekhar has won the esteemed ‘Talented Young Scientist Award’ by the Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy. He is a professor of the Department of Chemistry in BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, who has pursued his bachelors, masters and Ph.D from BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus. His main research interest lies in Medicinal and Synthetic Organic Chemistry. His work contributes significantly to understanding complex materials, making strides in both theoretical and practical applications.
In addition to his research, Prof. Chandra Sekhar is an experienced educator, deeply committed to mentoring students and fostering innovative thinking. His role at BITS Pilani reflects a balance between academic leadership and cutting-edge research initiatives.
Student Spotlight
Inspired Karters Gravity” finishes against all odds at the Indian Karting Race 2024
We are pleased to share that a team from BITS Pilani named “Inspired Karters Gravity” finished P10 in the IKR - Indian Karting Race 2024. The team, captained by Gokula Krishna Tavva and mentored by Prof. Manoj Kumar Soni, completed the endurance race at Budh International Circuit with 10 overtakes in 8 laps. The event was a significant morale booster for the participants and was an excellent place for like-minded people to lift each other up.
The team from BITS Pilani built their kart in the boiler room, and they shall always cherish their memories. They went through various problems, from technical faults to optimising finances to tight deadlines. However, through teamwork, discussions and the grit to never give up, they conquered their problems.
The team members mused how great it would be if such practical experiment-based methods were adopted earlier on from school itself to overcome that initial barrier of trying out something in real life which could perhaps end up as something tangibly useful.
Alumni Spotlight
Mr. Shishir Joshipura
CEO & MD of Praj Industries
Meet Shishir Joshipura, who is the Co-chair of the CII National Commitee on Bioenergy(including Ethanol) and the CII LAC Council for the year 2024-25. Under his leadership, Praj's market cap has surged sixfold, with revenues and profits increasing fourfold and tenfold, respectively. Praj achieved a milestone with India’s first commercial passenger flight using indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel in May 2023
He is recognised as one of India’s top 100 CEOs, and is an alumni from BITS Pilani and pursued his bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in 1983. He is also acclaimed for advancing sustainable climate action in the transportation sector.
Suhane Pal
A Creative Journey: Hasith Goli Shares Insights on Filmmaking and Tollywood
Filmmaker Hasith Goli (Pilani, '09) participated and interacted in a session titled A “Dream of Movies: BITS to Tollywood” on October 22, 2024, presented by the Alumni Relations Division of BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus.
Hasith made his directorial debut with Raja Raja Chora (2021), a huge hit in the Telugu film industry. His most recent film, Swag (2024), received high praise from critics for its innovative, non-linear narrative that addresses gender equality beyond binary choices. From being a BITSian to working for corporates like MapmyIndia and then entering the Telugu film business as an assistant director before directing his debut film, Hasith discussed his path throughout the session. He was questioned by students and moviegoers about the artistic elements of his movies, the production method, and other subtleties of filmmaking.
The conversation covered a wide range of Tollywood filmmaking processes, including proposing ideas to producers, visiting pre-production locations (also known as recce), choosing actors, and promoting movies. Hearing with Hasith Goli and learning insightful things about the film industry was an honor.
Events Gallery
Sparks 2024 – Intra-College Event
An Extravaganza of Dance and Talent. The Student Welfare Division (SWD) hosted Sparks 2024, a dynamic intra-college event, from October 8th to 10th, 2024. It featured 15 teams competing in the group dance category, and the event showcased stunning performances that captivated the audience.
Sparks 2024 became a vibrant celebration of talent and creativity, leaving everyone inspired by the passion and energy on display.
Awareness Talk on Breast Cancer for Nearby Community Ladies
In celebration of our institution’s 60th anniversary and in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the campus outreach team, with remarkable support from Nirmaan student volunteers, organized a Breast Cancer Awareness Talk for the women of Lamani Colony and the Birla & Zari communities.
The talk was led by Dr. Nayana Kantak, and over 40 women attended. Following the session, more than 40 registrations were gathered for the upcoming screening test, scheduled on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at our Medical Centre.
This initiative was made possible through the dedicated guidance of Meenal Ma’am and the support of our campus outreach team, Dr. Nayana, Ms. Sharvari, Ms. Savita (HR), and Ms. Anupa (SWD), whose contributions were essential to the success of the event.
Gandhi and Shastri Jayanti celebrated with great enthusiasm at BITS Pilani
The Programme began at 9:30 am with the traditional lamp lighting by Director BITS Pilani, Pilani campus, Prof Sudhirkumar V Barai Barai, Registrar Col. Soumyabrata Chakraborty, and Prof Nvm Rao, Dean Administration BITS, Pilani, Pilani Campus.
The lamp ceremony was followed by bhajans sung by the young kids of Blossoms Kids Zone, which entranced the audience with the aura of innocence and pure prosperity. To commemorate the day, documentaries on Gandhiji and the teachings of Gandhiji and Shastriji were also shown. The students of BITS Pilani sang lovely bhajans under Dr. Anil Rai's guidance, filling the audience with new vigour. The oath was also administered, and the programme ended with the floral tribute to Gandhiji and Shastriji followed by the National anthem sung by all with enthusiasm. The event was coordinated by Prof Sushila Shekhawat, Faculty In-charge, Infant Care Centre and Institute Functions.
Awards
India Education Equality Index (IEEI) 2024 Awards Ceremony
The India Education Equality Index (IEEI), a pioneering initiative by Pride Circle, a diversity inclusion organization, is India’s first and only benchmarking tool dedicated to measuring LGBT+ inclusion within educational institutions by employing a comprehensive framework of benchmarks and inclusion indicators.
The Summit and Award ceremony IEEI, was held on the 26th of October 2024 in Bengaluru, with Prof. Annapoorna Gopal, Dean of Practice School and Professor of Off-Campus Management Department and Mr Naman Bharti, BITS Alumnus and Founder of Anchor, the Gender and Sexuality Cell on campus, receiving the award on behalf of the Institute, who delivered the Honorary Speech at the Awards Ceremony.
BITS Pilani announced Best Institution for Sustainable Water Management
We are ecstatic to share that BITS Pilani has been jointly awarded the Best Institution under the Special Mention category, alongside IIT Tirupati, at the prestigious 5th National Water Awards 2023.
This recognition celebrates our continued efforts in water resources conservation and management and underscores our commitment to sustainable development.
The award was presented by Mr. C.R. Patil, Honorable Union Minister, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, Govt. of India. Prof. Ajit Pratap Singh and Prof. Dipendu Bhunia (PhD, Aff.M ASCE, L.M.ICI) have proudly collected the citation and trophy from the Hon. Minister on behalf of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Ram Chandra, ERP Head of BITS Pilani, wins big at Education World 24-25 Award
We heartily congratulate Ram Chandra, ERP Head, BITSPilani, on winning the EducationWorld Industry Leader in Technology 2024-25 Award!
Ram Chandra is an experienced ERP & IT Solutions architect with a demonstrated history of service delivery management & implementation. Being part of a strategic and executive position, he’s showcased great promise in building the best-of-the-breed Analytics solution.
This achievement of the ERP Head reflects the institute's commitment to leveraging technology to enhance K-12 Education.
Innovation & Collaboration
BITS Pilani and Impactsure Technologies Join Hands for Pioneering AI Research Collaboration!
On 1st October 2024, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, signed an MoU with Impactsure Technologies Private Limited, a cutting-edge SaaS company specializing in AI/ML-powered intelligent document processing and analytics.
This collaboration aims to leverage Large and Small Language Models (LLMs and SLMs) to develop advanced business and finance software solutions.
Some of the key focus areas of this joint venture are:
-Innovative solutions for Enterprises & BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance)
-Advanced analytics and intelligent document processing
-Academic-industry collaboration fostering technology growth
Mr. Dharmarajan Sankara Subrahmanian, Founder & CEO of Impactsure Technologies Private Limited, is a part of the BITS Pilani alumnus (Batch 1990-95). He expressed his pride in returning to his alma mater, emphasising Impactsure’s mission to "Interpret Information, Intelligently and Insightfully."
Prof. Soumyo Mukherji, Director of BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, highlighted the university’s commitment to research and innovation, expecting transformative solutions through this joint initiative.
This partnership is set to unlock new opportunities for students, researchers, and faculty, driving real-world innovations that reshape industries.
IPCS hosts an Indo-Austria Collaboration Project
The International Programmes & Collaboration Division (IPCD) invited delegates and distinguished guests from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, BOKU, Vienna, Austria.
The collaboration project was hosted by Prof. Srikanth Mutnuri, a professor of the Department of Biological Sciences of BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa Campus and the Dean of IPCD
The project titled, ‘Developing a Wetland-Photobioreactor: Microbial Fuel Cell System for Household Wastewater Treatment’ invited Prof. Gunter Langergraber, Dr. Bernhard Pucher and Mr. Patrick Wimmer. They were welcomed by IPCD and given a warm stay at the campus from 21st to 24th October 2024. The collaboration project was a great success, and we hope to see more innovative strides in the future.
BITS Pilani, MNIT and VGU partner together to new beginnings
A successful MoU exchange ceremony was held between BITS TEC, MNIT Innovation & Incubation Center (MIIC), and Vivekananda Global University (VGU).
This partnership between the three universities will drive innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and promote joint consultative meetings, skilling, and training across academia, startups, and MSMEs. We are positive that this partnership will unlock new opportunities in research and technology transfer.
