The Masterclasses brought out by IIT Madras Alumni Association are being offered free of cost.

The theme for Sangam 2020 of IIT Madras Alumni Association is ‘Driving the new normal’ and the event will deliberate how governments, businesses and individuals can convert this moment of crisis caused by the global pandemic to an era of opportunities.

Interested people can take part in the survey being conducted by IIT Madras Alumni Association in association with Office of Principal Scientific Adviser through the following link ‘www.iitmaa.org/sangam’

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Speaking about the importance of these Masterclasses of IIT Madras Alumni Association, Mr. Krishnan Narayanan, Vice President, IIT Madras Alumni Association, and Coordinator, Sangam 2020 said, ‘Sangam 2020’ is about us driving a new normal.

In this context, we have carefully chosen the Masterclasses based on feedback from our IIT Madras alumni.

‘The pandemic has deeply impacted our everyday lives and these Masterclasses of IIT Madras Alumni Association will teach us skills to respond to these challenges and thrive.’

Sangam 2020 will feature conversations with global leaders such as Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of Parliament, and National Vice President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Prof. K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India, Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys, Sir Mark Welland, University of Cambridge, U.K., Prof. Subra Suresh, President, Nanyang Technological University Singapore and Mr. Sridhar Vembu, Founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation.

We are excited to be conducting such an important survey, for the first time, among the public in India.

We believe that the survey results will be a source of valuable input to the science and technology planning process in the country and thus enabling India to become a five trillion dollars economy, he said.

The Masterclasses being launched by IIT Madras Alumni Association are:

1. A Masterclass on ‘SPRING – Bouncing Back From Rejection’ will be conducted by Mr. Ambi Parameswaran, Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Madras, brand/leadership coach and former CEO of FCB-Ulka Advertising,

2. A Masterclass on ‘Enhancing engagement in an attention-starved world – gamification in business and education’ will be conducted by Mr. Kartic Vaidyanathan, entrepreneur and alumnus of IIT Madras and Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras.

3. Masterclass on ‘Neuroscience, meditation and mental well-being – A journey into the heart to achieve personal mastery and excellence’ will be conducted by Mr. Prashanth Vasu, alumnus of IIT Madras/Partner at McKinsey and Company and an accomplished Heartfulness yoga trainer.

IIT Madras Alumni Association (IITMAA) was founded in December 1964, after the graduation of its very first batch in July ’64, IITMAA is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Act 1975, Chennai, India.

The primary mission of IITMAA is to Reconnect the alumni with their fellow alumni, institute, and students on the campus- Engage through various activities among all the stakeholders- to generate Impact through several social and academic projects for a collective growth.

The Association represent over 50,000 IITM alumni in various chapters spread across the globe, joining hands to make IIT Madras a world-class institution.

The technology was developed by Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team from the Department of Chemical Engineering in IIT Kanpur.

To facilitate its widespread adoption, IIT Kanpur has signed a technology transfer MoU with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

The pact was signed in the presence of Prof. Raja Angamuthu, Associate Dean of Research & Development, IIT Kanpur and Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (Inventor).

Device

The Soil Nutrient Sensing Device is a compact, smartphone-compatible innovation that provides real-time soil nutrient analysis, addressing the critical gap in timely soil testing for Indian farmers, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Traditionally reliant on district laboratories, farmers often face delays in receiving soil health assessments, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Portability

Designed for portability and ease of use, the device can assess multiple soil parameters simultaneously, storing data on a cloud server, with a single charge supporting up to 250 tests, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

This pioneering device leverages Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy to deliver instant soil health insights directly to a smartphone, eliminating the need for chemical reagents and complex testing processes.

By enabling precise nutrient management, the technology has the potential to transform agriculture, enhancing crop productivity, reducing fertilizer overuse, and contributing to both improved farmer incomes and environmental sustainability, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

By providing instant, reagent-free testing with Near Infrared Spectroscopy, this technology empowers farmers to make informed decisions, optimize fertilizer use, and boost productivity, he said.

Through our collaboration with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies, we aim to transform Indian agriculture and take this pioneering innovation to global markets, supporting the vision of sustainable farming practices, he said.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team for this groundbreaking development, he said.

Inventor

Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (inventor) said their development is a culmination of years of research and hard work aimed at addressing the real challenges farmers face in soil health assessment.

It’s truly gratifying to see this innovation, which offers immediate and accuratesoil analysis, now being transferred to ScaNxt Scientific Technologies for broader adoption, said Prof Jayant Kumar of IIT Kanpur.

This device not only empowers farmers with instant insights but also supports the creation of a national soil stack, aiding in better fertilizer management and promoting sustainability, he said.

I am excited to witness the positive impact it will have, both on the ground and at the policy level, as it contributes to a more sustainable and efficient agricultural landscape, he said.

Their collaboration with IIT Kanpur through the joint MoU will allow us to advance soil testing technologies further, integrating micro and secondary nutrient analysis into our BhuParikshak device, he said.

By combining NIR Spectroscopy, IoT, and AI/ML, we aim to provide farmers with even more precise and actionable data to optimize nutrient management and drive sustainable agricultural growth, he said.

Market and collaboration

The Indian soil testing equipment market, currently valued at approximately USD 114.43 million as of 2024, is set for significant expansion.

Driven by the increasing demand for efficient agricultural productivity solutions and the need for climate resilience, this market is projected to reach USD 145.83 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.08%.

This collaboration sets the stage for a transformative shift in soil health management, equipping farmers with immediate, data-driven insights and promoting sustainable agricultural practices both in India and globally.

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