With possibilities for direct admission into its MS programs, this cooperation provides a special route for these students to finish course credits at IIT Ropar. Prof. V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, and Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, formally signed the Memorandum of Understanding, therefore significantly broadening the academic horizons of both schools. By enrolling in particular courses at IIT Ropar, this cooperation lets students fulfill their IITM BS degree requirements, therefore promoting an academic resource and expertise exchange between the two esteemed universities. Read more, IIT JAM 2025 registration starts on 3 September 2024, All Details Provided Here

Key Highlights of the Collaboration:

Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, noting, “This partnership represents a transformative step in education and research. It not only expands academic and research horizons but also creates opportunities for meaningful exchanges between students and faculty, setting new standards for success in higher education.”

Background on IIT Madras BS (Data Science) Program

Launched in June 2020, the IIT Madras BS in Data Science and Applications is a four-year program designed to provide high-quality education through a blend of online content delivery and in-person assessments. With over 30,000 students actively participating, the program emphasizes interactive and flexible learning, making it accessible to students nationwide. This new collaboration with IIT Ropar follows similar partnerships with other leading institutions like IIT Gandhinagar and the Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI), which have also opened their campus courses to IIT Madras BS students.

Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan, Coordinator of the BS Degree at IIT Madras, highlighted the impact of these collaborations: “Such partnerships greatly enhance opportunities for our students, allowing them to gain practical experience and expand their learning beyond the virtual classroom. We are excited about the potential for growth and innovation that this collaboration with IIT Ropar brings.”

For more details about this partnership and its benefits, students and interested parties are encouraged to visit the official websites of IIT Madras and IIT Ropar.

Conclusion

The strategic cooperation between IIT Madras and IIT Ropar shows how inter-institutional cooperation may change educational environments and empower students with a lot of fresh chances. From easy access to postgraduate programs to hands-on research and industry exposure, our effort opens the path for IITM BS (Data Science) students to have a more enhanced learning experience. As these advantages start to show, the cooperation will surely establish a standard for academic excellence and inspire other similar alliances stressing student development and innovation in higher education.

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IIT Kanpur hosts great AntarikX 24 to Inspire Innovation

Designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by responding to pH changes, the film offers a practical solution for improving food safety and reducing waste.

This film detects the release of volatile amines, compounds typically associated with spoilage, and indicates food quality through visible color changes, say sources from NIT Rourkela.

These natural components make the film biodegradable, safe, and responsive, aligning with sustainability goals and offering a non-invasive way to assess seafood freshness.

Findings

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life in a paper co-authored by Prof. Preetam Sarkar (as the lead corresponding author), along with his research scholars, Mr. Rahul Thakur, Miss Harshi Singhi, Mr. Vedsagar Rajesh Suryavanshi, and Dr. Ravichandran Santhosh.

Other co-authors in this work include Dr. Khalid Gul from NIT Rourkela, Dr. Swarup Roy from Lovely Professional University, Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy from South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad from IIT Roorkee.

Fishing

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing approximately 8% of global fish production, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

It also holds the distinction of being the top five producer of shrimp globally, with frozen shrimp being the top export commodity.

Given the scale and importance of seafood production, innovations that ensure freshness and reduce spoilage are of immense value, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

In this context, intelligent packaging systems, which preserve food while monitoring its quality, are rapidly gaining global interest.

Unlike conventional packaging that serves merely as a protective barrier, the intelligent packaging film developed by NIT Rourkela team offers visual cues about the product’s condition, making it a promising solution for enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately, and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small amount of glycerol to cast the films.

These were dried and tested for their pH-sensitivity and effectiveness in monitoring seafood freshness, said Prof Preetam of NIT Rourkela.

Pigments

Beetroot peels contain betalains, a group of pigments known for their bright colours and pH sensitivity, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

These pigments also offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits, making them suitable for food-related applications.

Incorporating these natural compounds into the starch-based film creates a biodegradable, safe, and responsive packaging material.

When the seafood begins to spoil and pH levels rise, the film changes colour, providing a clear visual indicator of freshness.

Starch

The choice of Kodo millet starch and gum tragacanth contributes to the film’s biodegradable and eco-friendly profile.

Kodo millet is an underutilised grain with excellent film-forming properties, while gum tragacanth enhances the mechanical strength and flexibility of the material.

The researchers believe that using such agricultural by-products not only supports sustainability but also adds value to food processing waste, such as beetroot peels.

At the laboratory scale, the cost of producing the film was estimated approximately Rs. 900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the cost is projected to range between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per kilogram, making it a potentially viable option for commercial use.

Also Read – NIT Rourkela develops great AI powered model