The third edition of the Research Scholars Summit at SRM University-AP concluded, showcasing the university’s commitment towards academic research and innovation.
The two-day event featured esteemed speakers, including Padma Bhushan Awardee, Shri Padmanabhan Balaram;Director of the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), Dr Amith Kumar Patra; Head of Clouds and Convective Systems Group, NARL, Dr T Narayana Rao; and Member Secretary & Chief Executive Officer of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Science & Technology (APCOST), Dr K Sarat Kumar, alongside the Executive Research Director- SRM Group, Prof. D Narayan Rao; Vice Chancellor I/C – Prof. Ch Satish Kumar; and Dean-Research, Prof. Ranjit Thapa who engaged with participants and shared their insights.
This year’s summit attracted over 270 abstracts across five thematic areas, culminating in more than 200 oral presentations and 50 poster presentations. In addition to the research presentations, a Solveathon was conducted in collaboration with the AP State Advisory Committee (AP SAC) and AP Council of Science and Technology (AP COST).
During the event, the Vice Chancellor I/C, Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, commended the Ph.D. scholars for leveraging this valuable opportunity. He emphasised that the doctoral journey is a transitional phase where one is neither a student nor entirely a professional and with robust institutional and mentorship support, he indicated that this phase could significantly impact a scholar’s future. Prof. Kumar also highlighted the summit as a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars.
Prof. D Narayana Rao, head of the Research Group at SRM, expressed his enthusiasm for the summit, noting its role in fostering a mentor-mentee relationship. He stated that “continuous support from educators or the research supervisors can be crucial for nurturing the future of the scholars”.
Guest of Honour Amit Kumar Patra challenged attendees with thought-provoking questions aimed at steering research toward national relevance. He urged scholars to consider research that will support and enhance the research ecosystem in India. He also added the need to leverage the existing technologies for innovative advancements.
Dr K Sarat Kumar, Member Secretary & Chief Executive Officer of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Science & Technology (APCOST) highlighted Article 51 of the Indian Constitution, which calls for the promotion of scientific temper and inquiry. He emphasised that AP COST, with its 40-year legacy, is continuously working towards advancing science and technology in the region, and helping young scientists publish their research and patents and providing them with the necessary funds.
Concluding the summit, Prof. Padmanabhan Balaram recounted an engaging anecdote highlighting the necessity of interdisciplinarity in research through the naming of the renowned scientific journal called Nature and how the founder and editor, Norman Lockyer, found inspiration from literature to name the journal. He posited that “science is indeed the study of nature, which encompasses us all.”
The summit also hosted the prize distribution ceremony for the Research Scholars’ Championship. The championship recognised excellence, teamwork, and enthusiasm across multiple sporting categories. Outstanding oral and poster presenters from diverse disciplines were also recognised for their innovation and research excellence.
The Solveathon project titled-Skylink LoRa-enabled Drone Mesh for Disaster Communication bagged the Solveathon Championship and was also awarded the SEED grant for their work.
The oral presenters that impressed the jury with their clarity of thought, depth of research, and confident communication include:Shaik Nizamuddin(Chemistry), Syed Tayyaba ( Civil & Mechanical), Ghanta Swetha (CSE Track 1), Mutupuri Shiva Shankar (CSE Track 2), ,Supriya Thatavarthi (CSE Track 3), Nakka Shekhar ( ECE), Dasari Sai Ram Surya Lakshmi Avanthika (EEE), Shailesh Kumar (ESE), Salman Khan ( Biology), Somshukla Chakraborty( Liberal Arts), Y Navin ( Management), Alana John (Mathematics), Soumyaditya Das ( Physics), Malini Roy ( Liberal Arts Track 1), Vivek Roy (Liberal Arts Track 2)
The posters that bagged the prizes for visually captivating and effectively presenting their ideas are: R Devi & Saranya (Civil Engineering), Bhaskar Karra (ECE), S Trishaa (CSE), Sneha Asok (Biological Sciences), Bachina Lakshmi Priya (Commerce), Shaik Sharmila (Chemistry), and Sasikumar K (Physics).
The Research Scholars’ Summit at SRM University-AP not only facilitated a vibrant exchange of ideas but also reinforced the institution’s role in shaping the future of scientific inquiry and research in India.
