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 guests such as Mr. Asit Saha, Director General of the Geological Survey of India, and Dr. Saibal Ghosh, Deputy Director General of the Geological Survey of India, graced the event, along with Chief Guest Prof. Mrinal K Sen, a renowned Indian-American geophysicist from the University of Texas at Austin. The inaugural address by Mr. Asit Saha was followed by a thought-provoking keynote lecture by Prof. Mrinal K Sen on the timely topic of “Will AI Replace Geologists?” The first day set the tone with engaging competitions like Minrex, a mineral and fossil identification challenge, and Rock Riddle, a geoscience-themed crossword puzzle that tested participants’ wit and knowledge.
Day two of Prithvi 2025 kicked off with Triviasaurus, a high-stakes geoscience quiz that sparked intense competition among participants. The intellectual excitement continued with a powerful lecture by Dr. Saibal Ghosh, who delved into the critical issues surrounding landslide mitigation and warning systems in India. The fest’s international flavor was added through virtual lectures from distinguished scholars, including Prof. Shane Snyder, who discussed the evaluation of environmental chemical mixtures, and Prof. Christopher Bailey, who provided a detailed exploration of geological carbon sequestration in his talk on “Listwaenite and the Oman Ophiolite: Carbon Capture in Fault Zones.” The day also featured Dr. Jayanta Basu, a renowned environmental journalist, who presented a session on “Tracking Climate Geopolitics and Action on the Ground,” examining the intersection of environmental science and policy. The day’s intellectual vibrancy culminated in Ring of Fire, a debate competition where participants fiercely engaged in discussions on contemporary geoscience challenges. The evening was marked by a relaxed Gala Dinner, providing a chance for students, researchers, and professionals to network and exchange ideas.
The final day of Prithvi 2025 was a mix of problem-solving and career-oriented activities. The Geodyssey treasure hunt challenged participants to solve geoscience-based clues while exploring the campus. Concurrently, the Poster Presentation session allowed students to showcase their innovative research projects, sparking engaging conversations and academic exchange. The technical lecture series featured industry experts like Mr. Abhimanyu Maitra, a Reservoir Geophysicist at Schlumberger, who shed light on advanced geoscience technologies. Mr. Faishal Khan, founder of Geokhan Academy, discussed career growth opportunities in the geosciences field, while Dr. Partha Pratim Mitra, an IIT Kharagpur Alumni and Energy Expert, gave an insightful lecture on the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The fest came to a fitting conclusion with a closing ceremony, where winners of the various competitions were recognized with prizes and certificates, and the organizing team expressed heartfelt gratitude to all dignitaries, participants, and sponsors who contributed to making Prithvi 2025 a resounding success.
In the spirit of fostering academic collaboration, industry engagement, and research discussions, Prithvi 2025 reinforced IIT Kharagpur’s unwavering commitment to advancing the geosciences. It also served as an invaluable platform for aspiring geologists, researchers, and students to connect, learn, and innovate in an exciting, fast-evolving field.
A sincere appreciation to all the participants, speakers, and sponsors whose invaluable contributions made Prithvi 2025 a great success.
Inputs from: Prof. Abhijit Mukherjee, Associate Dean, Students Affairs, IIT Kharagpur
Email: abhijit@gg.iitkgp.ac.in
Edited By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007
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