In The Spotlight
Finding Your Balance at BITS
The BITS Pilani experience is a journey of growth and self-discovery. It’s a time of intense learning, exciting opportunities, and the occasional challenge. In this section, we share the insightful reflections of several BITS Pilani students who’ve embraced these experiences head-on, offering valuable advice and perspectives on navigating the academic and personal demands of campus life. Their stories highlight the importance of balance, resilience, self-advocacy, and taking initiative—qualities that will undoubtedly serve them well throughout their lives.
The Art of Prioritization - Prisha Peyush Nene
As a student, you need to learn how to prioritize. Identify areas where your interest coincides with your talent. So, it is not a matter of doing everything but of doing what matters. One can find the sweet spot between productivity and peace of mind by understanding your rhythm. Structuring your schedule around your energy levels can effectively utilize both study time and downtime. The final key to balance is embracing failure as growth. Failures carry lessons, while campus pressure is placed on students about perfect results. BITS Pilani provides ample platforms to experiment, fail, and learn in various areas, starting from APOGEE or having entrepreneurial pursuits.
The Power of Boundaries - Siddharth Dixit
One way to combat the effects of hustle culture is by setting boundaries. Learn to prioritize the things that matter most to you and say “no” to opportunities that don’t align with your goals. It’s better to focus on a few meaningful commitments rather than stretching yourself thin across too many areas. Additionally, hobbies, exercise, and social interactions will recharge your mind and body, helping you return to your responsibilities with renewed energy.
Breaking the Silence - Renaissance Mukhopadhyay
We are frequently trained to think that asking for assistance indicates weakness, especially in fields where resilience and strength are valued highly. However, admitting one's difficulties is actually a brave gesture. It's time to make mental health discussions commonplace, establish secure environments for expressing vulnerability and make sure that everyone who is feeling overwhelmed has access to support networks. Our perspective on accomplishment and success needs to be revised. Academic and professional success are valuable, but one's mental and emotional health shouldn't suffer in order to achieve them. Institutions, organizations and society at large need to examine the demands we put on ourselves from the outside as well as the inside.
Proactive Engagement - Christo Alex
When in a group it is easy to fall prey to the “Bystander Effect”, because wiggling out of responsibility is easier when it is shared with a larger group, diminishing individual action. “Tokenism” - the phenomena where people perform actions that display rather than actually contribute meaningfully also is at play. The lack of knowledge of the initiatives, organisations or channels that are involved in the issues that concern you could hold you back. Meaningful action could start by working with and forwarding issues via these channels.
What should you do about this?
1. Seek awareness of what’s happening within the Institution & Community, especially initiatives that could benefit you. Staying up to date with “BITSology” could be a step in that progress.
Remember, finding balance is key. Check out the MPOWER CELL at all our campuses, a resource dedicated to helping students navigate stress and challenges. They offer counselling and workshops—a great way to prioritize your well-being alongside your studies.
BITS Exclusive
Inauguration of the Plateau GRP Conference Room at BITS Pilani
On 23rd September 2024, BITS Pilani successfully held the inauguration of the PLATEAU GRP Conference Room, in the presence of our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, Director, Pilani Campus, Prof. Sudhirkumar V Barai, Director BITS Pilani - K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Suman Kundu, Dean Alumni Relations, Prof. Arya Kumar, Associate Dean Alumni Relations, Pilani Campus, Prof. Rajeev Sakhuja, Mr. Vishwenath S Kizhapandal (online) and other officials from BITS Pilani.
Mr. Vishwenath's generous contribution has enabled BITS Pilani to convert the old PolyCom room into a meeting room with an advanced video conferencing facility named PLATEAU GRP Conference Room. He is one of our esteemed alumni from the Batch of 1991-1995 and President & CEO of Plateau GRP, Washington DC, USA, joined us online as the Chief Guest, and his continued support exemplifies the strong bond between BITS Pilani and its alumni.
This marks another milestone in BITS Pilani’s vision of progress, and we extend heartfelt thanks to Mr Kizhapandal and all our alumni who continue to contribute towards the betterment of our institution.
Research Stories
Research on aluminum matrix syntactic foams (AMSFs)
Research on aluminum matrix syntactic foams (AMSFs), including ceramic hollow microparticles embedded in a metal matrix, has grown to decrease density and improve mechanical and acoustic characteristics. This lightweight material has attracted considerable interest in the automotive, aerospace, and marine sectors because of its low density, prolonged plateau region, and toughness under quasi-static loading
Faculty Spotlight
Breaking New Ground in AI-Driven Design: BITS Pilani's Prof. Dr Sk Aziz Ali sets his sights at NeurIPS 2024!
Prof. Dr. Sk Aziz Ali from BITS Pilani’s Computer Science Department, together with top researchers from the German Research Center for AI, is making waves with groundbreaking research in Natural Language Modeling for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Smart Manufacturing. Their work, titled "Text2CAD: Generating Sequential CAD Designs from Beginner-to-Expert Level Text Prompts," has earned a prestigious Spotlight at NeurIPS 2024 one of the world's most renowned AI conferences shaping the future of Machine Vision and Pattern Recognition.
The current evolving nature of AI applications (e.g., Chat-Generative Pretrained -Transformer and almost all Multimodal learning models) and their future directions are determined by the revolutionary contributions like Transformer Network through "Attention is All you Need" type publications in NeurIPS.
Prof. Ali highlights that despite their capabilities, modern CAD tools lack the AI-assisted design integration. This novel ‘Text2CAD framework is the first to enable seamless generation of text-to-parametric CAD models through designer-friendly, intuitive natural-language based text prompts for users of all experience levels.
Discover more about this pioneering project at Text2CAD Project.
Student Spotlight
Team Lite Lo has an impressive finish at the ICPC World Finals
We are ecstatic to announce that team "lite lo" from BITS Pilani, consisting of Anish Ashish Kasegaonkar, Tanveer Singh, and Siddhant Attavar, proudly represented the institute at the ICPC World Finals 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan, held from September 15th to 19th. They demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills and teamwork, and the trio achieved an impressive 7th place ranking in India and secured the 107th position on the global stage.
This is the fifth time a team from BITS Pilani has qualified for the ICPC World Finals and has built a strong presence in the competitive programming community of India. The first team qualified in 2016, and since 2021, teams from our institute have qualified for the finals four years in a row. In 2022, the BITS Pilani team earned the top rank in India at the World Finals, which is indeed a proud moment for the institute and we hope to see future laurels.
Alumni Spotlight
Revathi Advaithi
BITS Pilani alumna Revathi Advaithi has been recognised as one of the 2024 Fortune Most Powerful Women. A proud student of the batch 1986 of BITS Pilani, she has achieved great success as the CEO of Flex, an American multinational manufacturing company that focuses on end-to-end customer value chain ownership.
The CEO graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from BITS Pilani in 1990 and subsequently earned an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2005. She’s worked her way up the ranks by beginning her career as a shop floor supervisor at Eaton, working in Honeywell in supply chains and then returning to Eaton, and being promoted to COO.
Revathi’s incredible journey from our campus to the global stage exemplifies the true spirit of BeyondBITS. Her leadership at Flex reflects the potential and strength of women in creating sustainable, resilient solutions for a better tomorrow.
Suhane Pal
Engineer's Day!
Events Gallery
Dubai Corporate Leaders and Founders give back to the community
On September 6, 2024, BITS Pilani hosted an exclusive gathering of its esteemed BITSian Corporate Leaders and Founders in Dubai. The event was marked by an energetic and collaborative atmosphere, where influential members of the BITSian community came together to connect, share insights, and explore future partnerships.
The evening featured a captivating address by our Vice Chancellor, Prof. V Ramgopal Rao, who shared exciting developments at BITS Pilani and emphasized the crucial role of alumni contributions in advancing our mission. Prof. Arya Kumar further inspired the audience by highlighting the immense potential of our alumni network.
Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director of Birla Institute Of Technology and Science, Pilani Dubai Campus, added depth to the discussions by underscoring the strength of BITS Pilani as a premier institution.
It was heartening to see our alumni express a deep commitment to giving back to BITS Pilani, exemplifying the enduring BITSian spirit of excellence and innovation. The event in Dubai, against the backdrop of the global city’s dynamism, made the evening even more memorable.
BPHC successfully hosts the Indo-UK International Workshop
BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus wrapped up an incredible Indo-UK international workshop on Emerging Innovations in Sustainable Construction Materials (E-SCM 2024). On September 13th and 14th, industry experts, researchers, and students came together to explore groundbreaking advancements in sustainable construction.
This workshop was possible thanks to MHRD (SPARC Project) and we thank them for their generous support and to our partners Heriot-Watt University, UK, for collaborating with us on this fantastic event.
Hiroshima University and The University of Sheffield collaborate with BITS Pilani for an entrepreneurship workshop
BITS Pilani hosted the AGILE Entrepreneurship Workshop from 27th August to 7th September that brought together students from Hiroshima University, The University of Sheffield, and BITS Pilani to foster entrepreneurship and cross-cultural exchange.
The workshop began with students being introduced to the diverse flavours of India, giving them an early taste of the rich culture they would experience throughout their stay. The ice-breaking sessions, led by Prof. Arya Kumar, were instrumental in helping students from different backgrounds connect and form bonds, ensuring a collaborative and supportive environment from the outset.
Students attended insightful lectures by Prof. Leela Rani, Prof. Ashutosh Bhatia, Prof. Sangeeta Sharma, Prof. Hari Nair, and Prof. Dr. Rajiv Kumar Chaturvedi covered various aspects of entrepreneurship, blockchain technology, and design thinking processes. A visit to the Map My India office and interaction with Mr. Rohan Verma gave them a deep understanding of digital mapping and its applications, further enhancing their knowledge.
The workshop also included immersive cultural experiences, such as visits to a farm and a village, where students had the opportunity to witness rural Indian life firsthand along with interaction with Mr. Rahul Kaswa, Member of Parliament, Churu, Mr. Manoj Nyangli, Member of Legislative Assembly, Sadulpur and Mr. Pitram Kala, Member of Legislative Assembly, Pilani. They also participated in yoga and mehendi sessions, which introduced them to traditional Indian practices and offered a relaxing break from their academic activities.
The experience was further enriched by an excursion to Jaipur, where students explored the historical and architectural wonders of the city, including Amer Fort, Jantar Mantar, Jal Mahal, and Hawa Mahal, deepening their understanding of India's rich cultural heritage. The journey culminated in a trip to Delhi, where the students spent their final moments together, reflecting on the special memories they had created. The AGILE Entrepreneurship Workshop was an educational experience and a bridge between cultures, leaving a lasting impact on all participants.
Innovation & Collaboration
BITS Pilani and IIT Bombay collaborate for Research, Innovation, and Skill Development
On 26th September 2024, BITS Pilani Vice Chancellor Prof. V Ramgopal Rao and IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare signed the MoU at IIT Bombay.
The event was also attended by Prof Soumyo Mukherji, Director of BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus, Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan, Dean of R&D IIT Bombay, and Prof Yogeeswari Perumal, Dean of Administration BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus.
This MoU will outline cooperation in facilitating positive scholarly and industrial interaction, knowledge transfer, and technology development according to societal challenges. The aims of collaboration are mainly in the form of a joint research project, consultancy, student internships, faculty exchanges, and developing modern technologies.
The collaboration between BITS Pilani and IIT Bombay will target some key objectives such as: upgrading knowledge management, further development of technology, and upskilling human resources by providing continuous education and more. More details in the Indian Express article:https://lnkd.in/db-m7nd7
BITS Pilani played a key role in a groundbreaking AI global initiative!
Partnering with Qatar Foundation's WISE, the Institute of International Education (IIE), and six other leading universities, BITS contributed to a new research consortium focused on AI's impact on higher education and workforce development.
This 12-month study will examine AI integration in curricula, skills gap closure, and preparing students for the AI-driven world. The consortium, launched during the UN General Assembly, will conduct research across diverse global contexts, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Findings will be presented at the next WISE Summit, showcasing BITS Pilani's commitment to global collaboration and leadership in AI-focused education.
BITS Pilani Dubai Campus installs infrastructure for The Department of Management Studies
It’s a new day at the Department of Management Studies at BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, as they have launched a state-of-the-art classroom designed to meet the demands of contemporary education in business management and studies.
With top-notch amenities, advanced infrastructure, and support for simulation exercises, group work, and hybrid learning, this facility is set to enhance interactive and immersive student experiences. We at BITS Pilani give a hearty congratulations to this new era of learning and we hope to see the students utilise the equipments to their full potential.
Admissions News
