Providing Technologies For Regional Development

As a leading technology institute we are focussed on developing technologies that are needed for fulfilling SDG goals, rather than depending on technologies from the western countries

IIT Guwahati has been doing phenomenally well in national and international rankings. What goes into the success of the institute? Also how does the institute attract the best of faculty and industry experts for the benefit of students?

Definitely the success any institute depends on the quality of manpower that it has. Just 15 to 20 years ago, IITs were really very famous for their UG students. We get the best of the best from across the nation through our JEE exam, the Joint Entrance exam and you

know, preparing the question paper, you know, analysing how they were performing. Once they enter the IIT, then the engineering faculty takes over their education. But now we realise that academics and the research must go hand-in-hand. We also have to develop labs and foster research.

We have created positions like visiting professors, honorary professors, and invite industry experts as ‘professor of practice’. It’s not only at an entry level that we are inviting them; they can be at associate level or even a full professor level. And they can also be guide or co-guides for guiding MTech or PhD students. That is how we ensure that the best manpower available anywhere in the country comes to us and to ensure that the research ecosystem grows and is at par with the best in the world.

What is social impact of the research that you are doing, especially since IIT Guwahati is placed in a seismic and landslide zone?

Our responsibility in this regard is very high. This region is prone to natural disasters – we are in specific zone 4, and we suffer floods and cyclonic storms. We are working together with various disaster management authorities. In fact, on the insistence of the Prime Minister, we have set up Centre for Disaster Management and Research (CDMR) to integrate expertise of various departments.

We are testing the impact of high speed railways to anaylse what happens when a train passes at very high speed, in different soil conditions.

And we are working very closely with various self-help groups in the region to provide technologies that enhance productivity. The region is rich in biodiversity, but most of the places are not acceptable. We provide technologies to increase the shelf-life of food items. It also

helps the Armed Forces where transportation in remote locations is a problem.

We have technologies for waste management that are of use for the Armed Forces at higher altitude. Rather than bring it down, the waste can be used as construction material, using a 3D printer. These technologies are economically very beneficial for a country like India.

We are striving to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. As the head of a premier engineering college, what approach would you suggest towards sustainability?

The United Nations has come up with 17 SDGs and every nation in the world has to implement these by 2030. In addition to the 17 goals, there are 169 targets to be achieved. We as as an academic institute are involved in implementing those goals in whatever way that we can do.

As a leading technology institute, we are also ensuring that the technology related to all these goals is developed and we are really focussed on developing technologies that are needed, rather than depending on technologies from the western countries. The Times Higher Education Rankings bring out Times Higher Education Impact Ranking and this year we have performed well in Goal 7 that is affordable and clean energy and have been ranked 6th.

We are working very hard to develop technologies pertaining to sanitation and clean water. We have a Water Centre at IIT Guwahati and we are working very closely with almost all the governments in the North-East region to ensure utilisation of rainwater.

The institute has also initiated a special course on Sustainable Development Goals as a compulsory course.

Given the centre-stage that AI has come to occupy, how is the institute responding to the industry needs? And what are some other new-age courses that the institute is offering?

This is the era of artificial intelligence and data science and we definitely cannot get away from that. We have been teaching different aspects of AI, data science and data system for quite some time and by multiple departments which have been updated. Various departments like computer science, engineering, mathematics and computing and electronics department have come together to initiate a masters programme on data science. We were also fortunate to have a philanthropist from the US who has funded a School for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. We are also looking at other emerging programmes where interdisciplinary expertise is needed.

We have also started a School of Business where again our students because of the demand from the industry can audit courses in various management courses.

We have a School for Health Science and Technology, we have a masters programme in biomedical devices. Regenerative medicine is another important area where we are working. We have got a major funding from Assam State that is funding us to set up a medical school. The foundation stone for that was laid on April 14 by the Prime Minister of India.

Meha Mathur

BW Reporters The author works as Senior Associate Editor with BW Businessworld