Poulami Mondal – The KGP Chronicle

Apr

09

2025

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Where the Earth Meets the Minds – Prithvi 2025

Department, Engagement, Events, Outreach ActivityAcademic Collaboration, academic exchange, Climate Geopolitics, environmental chemical mixtures, fossil, Fossil Fuels, Geodyssey, geological carbon sequestration, Geological Survey of India, Geologists, Geology, Geophysics, Geoscience, Geoscience Technologies, IIT Kharagpur, industry engagement, innovative research, landslide mitigation, mineral, Minrex, Prithvi 2025, renewable energy, Reservoir Geophysicist, Ring of Fire, Rock Riddle, Triviasaurus, University of Texas

From March 21st to 23rd, 2025, the Department of Geology and Geophysics at IIT Kharagpur hosted the highly anticipated annual departmental fest, Prithvi 2025. This three-day event brought together over 250 students from across India for a rich blend of competitions, technical sessions, and networking opportunities, all centered around the fascinating world of geosciences. The fest kicked off with an inaugural ceremony attended by a distinguished group of dignitaries, including Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur; Prof. Krishna Kumar, Dean, Faculty of Science, IIT Kharagpur and Prof. Shashi Prakash Sharma, HOD, Department of Geology and Geophysics, IIT Kharagpur. Special…

Apr

08

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

IIT Kharagpur reveals Alarming Impact of Surface Ozone Pollution on India’s Major Food Crops

Academy, Environment & Social Impact, Expert Insight, Health, ResearcherAgriculture, air pollution, atmosphere, Climate Change, CORAL, crop health, crop productivity, Food Crops, Food Grains, food security, insufficient mitigation, Land Sciences, Maize, No Poverty, Ocean, population growth, rice, river, Surface Ozone, Surface Ozone Pollution, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Wheat, wheat yields, Zero Hunger

A ground-breaking study by Prof. Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath and his research group at the Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL), IIT Kharagpur, has revealed severe risks of surface ozone pollution on India’s major food crops. Published under the title “Surface ozone pollution-driven risks for the yield of major food crops under future climate change scenarios in India”, the study highlights how ozone pollution, a lesser-known but potent threat, could drastically reduce agricultural yields in the country. The Indian and world staple food grains wheat,…

Mar

26

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

Tropical Shifts Fuel Enhanced Melting of West Antarctic Ice Shelves

Environment, Environment & Social Impact, Research, Researcher, Social ImpactAntarctic climate, atmospheric changes, atmospheric circulation, climate model simulations, climate models, cryospheric changes, Earth, El Niño, environment, global sea-level rise, ice sheets, ice shelves, interannual climate events, Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation, Melting Icecaps, polar regions, Ross-Amundsen Sea, sea surface temperatures, South Pacific Convergence Zone, Southern Annular Mode, surface melting, teleconnections, tropical convection, Tropical Shifts, West Antarctic

Groundbreaking research sheds light on atmospheric changes behind accelerated melting, with implications for global sea-level rise A recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment reveals significant findings regarding the rapid increase in surface melting across West Antarctic ice shelves over the last two decades. Led by Prof. Pranab Deb, Centre for Ocean, River, Atmosphere and Land Sciences (CORAL) at IIT Kharagpur and co-authored by leading atmospheric scientists including David Bromwich from the Byrd Center's Polar Meteorology Group, the study offers fresh insights into the atmospheric drivers behind these dramatic shifts in Antarctic ice behavior. a. Pacific Ocean sector of…

Mar

19

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

….And then there was light!

Environment & Social Impact, Institute, Research & Innovation, Social Impact, Spotlight InnovationClean Energy, Cost Effective, deep water, Economic Development, energy harvesting machine, green energy generation, hydroelectric power generation, IIT Kharagpur, Innovation, local transportation, no turbine, power generation technology, Static Electricity, strong current, Subarnarekha River, sustainable energy, water currents, water power

Researchers at IIT Kharagpur are generating electricity from Subarnarekha river by harnessing the flow of water without turbines A groundbreaking initiative by researchers from IIT Kharagpur is transforming how we think about hydroelectric power generation. Instead of relying on traditional turbines or large dams, this team is harnessing the power of water flow in the Subarnarekha River to generate electricity using a unique and innovative method. In the past five to six months, the researchers, along with local workers, have successfully lit LED lights using electricity generated from the river’s flow in Keshiari block, Paschim Medinipur district. Their initial success…

Mar

12

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

Meet Prof. Suman Chakraborty – A Visionary Innovator Revolutionizing Healthcare

Academia, Awards & Accolades, Expert Insight, Humans of KGP, Research & Innovation, ResearcherAffordable Healthcare, Consultancy, COVIRAP, Diagnostic Technologies, Healthcare, IIT Kharagpur, industrial research, Infosys Prize, Innovative Solutions, Institute Chair professor, mechanical engineering, National Award, Paper and Pencil Microfluidics, Paper-based Hemoglobin sensor, Precision Manufacturing, Researcher, Rural Livelihoods, Science, Suman Chakraborty, technology, Technology Development, Technology Transformation, TWAS Award, UNESCO

Prof. Suman Chakraborty has recently been awarded the 2026 TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for his seminal work in micro and nanoscale flows, enabling innovations in diagnostic technologies and improving rural livelihoods and healthcare access for marginalized populations. Prof. Suman Chakraborty is the Institute Chair professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the IIT Kharagpur, and a Sir J.C. Bose National Fellow of the Department of Science and Technology of India. Based on his outstanding research contributions, he has also featured in the list of top 100 Researchers…

Mar

03

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

Inauguration of VATIKA: The Biophilic Studio at IIT Kharagpur Research Park – A Milestone in Sustainable Innovation

Alumni Corner, Engagement, Events, Funded Projects, Humans of KGP, Outreach ActivityAcademia, bio-reclamation, Biophilic Studio, Design Principles, Governance, IIT KGP, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kharagpur Research Park, industry, Innovation Ecosystems, innovative dialogue, Intellectual Exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, KarmYog, Miyawaki Method, podcast, Prakriti Jagaran Yatra, research, sustainability, Sustainable Innovation, VATIKA, Vetiver System Technology, Well-being

A significant milestone in sustainable innovation was achieved with the inauguration of VATIKA: The Biophilic Studio at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park. The event was graced by Dr. Amit Patra, Director of IIT Kharagpur, along with Dr. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director, and Dr. Khanindra Pathak, Professor-in-Charge of the Research Park. This inauguration marked the first Biophilic Studio of its kind in the country, ushering in a new era of biophilic design principles within academic and innovation ecosystems. “Our Kharagpur campus faces a challenge as it isn’t located in a metro city. This research park in New Town is a bridge…

Feb

21

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

Prof. G. P. Raja Sekhar appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University

Appointments, Humans of KGP, Institute, ResearcherAcademic, Andhra University, Applied Mathematics, Appointments, Computer Applications, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, Dean of Faculty of Sciences, Fluid Mechanics, IIT KGP, IIT Kharagpur, Mathematical Methods, Mathematics, Partial Differential Equations, Professor, Science and Engineering Research Board, SERB, Stokes Flows, Vice Chancelleor, viscous droplets

Prof. G. P. Raja Sekhar has an extensive academic background in mathematics and applied sciences. He completed his Ph.D. in Mathematics (Fluid Mechanics) from the University of Hyderabad in 1997, following an M.Phil. in Applied Mathematics (Fluid Mechanics) in 1993, and an M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics in 1992 from the same institution. His foundational education includes a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry from Andhra University in 1990, as well as Intermediate and S.S.C. education from the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education and Board of Secondary Education, respectively. With over 27 years and six months of experience in teaching…

Feb

18

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

Breakthrough in Nanoscale Laser Technology by IIT Kharagpur Researchers Paves the Way for Quantum Communications

Academia, Expert Insight, Funded Projects, Research & Innovation, Spotlight Innovationanisotropic semiconductor, anoscale laser technology, atomic layers, frequency, IIT KGP, IIT Kharagpur, Ministry of Education, optical microcavity, pump laser, Quantum Communications, quantum light, Raman Laser, Researchers, S. Pancharatnam, Science and Engineering Research Board, semiconductor, STARS, Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States, Symmetric Polariton, Zero-Threshold

New Zero-Threshold Raman Laser Holds Promise for Advanced Quantum Technologies In a ground-breaking discovery, researchers from IIT Kharagpur, led by Dr. Sajal Dhara, have developed a zero-threshold Raman laser that could revolutionize nanoscale laser technology with immense potential for quantum communications. This innovative development marks a significant milestone in the field of Laser technology. The research team’s work, which has been recently published as a letter in the prestigious journal Physical Review B under the title “Zero-threshold PT-symmetric Polariton Raman Laser,” was funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (CRG) and Ministry of Education (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States…

Feb

18

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

IIT Kharagpur Inaugurates the Zen Lounge: A New Space for Mindfulness and Well-being

Alumni Corner, Collaborations, Community, Engagement, Outreach Activity, Social ImpactIIT Kharagpur

In a remarkable addition to its student welfare and campus facilities, Zen Lounge, a yoga and meditation hall located within the SNIG Girls Hostel at IIT Kharagpur was inaugurated recently. The Zen Lounge is dedicated to foster mindfulness, well-being, and mental wellness for the students, and marks an important milestone in promoting holistic education at IIT Kharagpur. With the generous support of Ms. Viji Narayanan, a distinguished alumna of IIT Kharagpur, who resided in the same girls’ hostel during her undergraduate years from (1986-1991), her vision is to create a space for mindfulness which stems from her own transformative experiences…

Feb

18

2025

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By Poulami Mondal

Prof. Sudip Misra from IIT Kharagpur Becomes the Only Indian Professor Elected as ACM Fellow

Academia, Awards & Accolades, Humans of KGP, Researcher

IIT Kharagpur is proud to share that Prof. Sudip Misra from Department of Computer Science and Engineering has been elected as a Fellow of the prestigious Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the prime Computing Association in the World. Out of the 55 fellows this year, Prof. Misra is the only one selected from India for his contributions to intelligent service-centric sensing and sustainable data processing in large-scale IoT networks. He is the only academic from India to be elected ACM Fellow in 2024. The induction of the ACM Fellows will be held at the ACM Awards Banquet, 2025, in San…