While the pandemic still hovers over our heads, netizens went gaga over the use of e-Avatars at IIT-Bombay’s Convocation 2020 in the institute’s 58th convocation. The final year students got a virtual convocation on the 23rd of August.
Duncan Haldane, co-recipient of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, and a Professor of Physics at Princeton University was the Chief Guest. Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone was the Guest of Honour.
e-AVATARS AT IIT-BOMBAY’S CONVOCATION 2020
In keeping with the tradition, the ceremony had begun with the institute’s song post which the director, Dr. Subhasis Chaudhari of the institute declared the virtual convocation open. In addition, he read out the institute’s annual report. Over 2000 students participated in the ceremony from the safety of their homes since their e-avatars walked up the dais at IIT-Bombay’s convocation 2020. Above all, they received medals and degrees from the virtual avatars of dignitaries and the director.
The live telecasting of the entire event was done by DD Sahyadri. Likewise, on the official YouTube and Facebook page of the institution.
नया दौर, नया प्रयोग!
ऐसा दीक्षांत समारोह आपने नहीं देखा होगा। नवाचार और डिजिटल अवतारों के जरिए @iitbombay में संपन्न हुआ 58वां दीक्षांत समारोह।@ddsahyadrinews pic.twitter.com/cZ7i9MhBMm
— डीडी न्यूज़ (@DDNewsHindi) August 24, 2020
A statement released by the institute said: “The institute thought it best to arrange such a VR-convocation for the graduating students as we did not wish to put their health at risk but at the same time, we did not wish to deprive them of the sense of achievement and pride of passing out of India’s premier engineering Institute.” (Source: The Indian Express)
In addition, the students got an opportunity to roam around a virtual campus, and visit their hostels and departments virtually. Above all, they could also meet friends and faculty.
LEAVING A LEGACY BEHIND AT IIT-BOMBAY
The graduating students this year include 381 PhDs, 18 dual degrees of MTech/MPhil and Ph.D., and 27 dual degrees of MSc and Ph.D. Of them, 39 research scholars received the award of ‘Excellence in Ph.D. Research’ for 2018-20. In addition, the Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, Professor Margaret Gardner gave away 33 joint Ph.D. degrees, in association with Monash University.
Three students got gold medals for their exemplary performance. Shashwat Shukla, a student from the department of electrical engineering got the ‘Institute Gold Medal, 2018-19’. The ‘Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma Gold Medal’ was conferred on Prakash Singh Badal, a Ph.D. student from the department of civil engineering. Above all, the ‘President of India Medal’ was bestowed on Sahil Hiral Shah, a (B.Tech) student from the department of computer science and engineering. Additionally, departmental toppers got silver medals by the chief guest. (Source: The Indian Express)
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