STORY CREDITS

Writer/Editor: Shivangi Vasudev Bhatt

Photo: Media and Communication, IIT Gandhinagar

This event was in succession to two successful research showcases for undergraduate and postgraduate students. The first edition of PhD Research showcase exhibited ~140 posters across four days.

IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN) organised a four-day-long PhD Research Showcase to provide PhD scholars with a platform to present their research to a broad audience. PhD students across 13 disciplines presented their research work to a large audience of students and faculty from varied research areas. This allowed the presenters to enhance their communication skills and facilitated conversations with people from different fields, kindling the researchers to think from a different perspective.

The PhD Research Showcase provides students with a platform to share their work with a larger and more diverse audience. In this process, they also get invaluable feedback from interdisciplinary faculty and peers. It promotes the importance of communication of science in society.

Prof Saumyakanti Khatua

Associate Dean, Postgraduate Studies, IITGN

The posters covered a wide range of interesting work — from basic science research on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of earth science, physics, chemistry, and biology to application-based studies in energy sciences, environmental studies, biotechnology, space sciences, and more. Broadly the projects were on neurodegenerative disorders, cancer therapeutics, and bio-imaging applications; tribal girls’ education, influence of gender identity on panchayat leadership and outcomes; and understanding food processing in the Harappan Civilization. Research on understanding chemical catalysis, comprehensive risk hazard modelling to understand the effect of extreme events on road infrastructure, hydrogels to make scaffold for biomedical applications; microbubble synthesis for various scientific applications, and Graph theory investigations were also featured.

Furthermore, eclectic research on understanding climate warnings, evaluation of the Himalayan landscape, antibacterial wipes, improving physical human-robot interaction, 2D materials for energy application, and water quality interaction, among others, was displayed. Several students from Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, also presented their research on projects that explored the study of the atmosphere of hot Jupiter, understanding massive star formation, red clump stars, and more.

Students’ overall comprehension of the research, the motivation behind the chosen topics, their ability to effectively communicate their work to a diverse audience, and their presentation skills were assessed for the best poster award.

IITGN, through such events, is making learning about science an enriching experience for both the attendees and presenters. The Institute will continue organising such dynamic research showcases to make science more accessible and understandable to the masses.