Assam: Series of innovations during pandemic year at IIT-Guwahati

GUWAHATI:

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) came up with a series of innovations in 2020 to align with the new normal.

From a virtual convocation addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to virtual classes, virtual placements and internships besides ensuring the safety of students, staff and faculty with COVID-19 protocols on campus, the institute has put in every effort to overcome unprecedented challenges of the pandemic year.

Addressing the 22nd convocation in September through a virtual-reality platform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the students of IIT Guwahati to innovate for the future of the new normal.

The institute has taken forward the way education is imparted to the students while adapting to best practices.

Online lessons

During the pandemic, IIT Guwahati focused on high-quality online education and conducted regular online counselling and yoga classes.

A helpline portal was also launched.

The institute has been imparting online education for all its courses and has initiated an evaluation of the students also via online mode.

Virtual placements

For the first time, the placement process was conducted on a virtual platform with eligible students taking part virtually from different locations of the country.

Big companies such as Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Adobe, Quadeye, Oracle, Walmart, Bajaj, American Express, Uber and Accenture Japan among others took part in the recruitment drive.

The institute also organised the virtual summer internship hiring process for pre-final year students in September 2020. Around 51 companies participated in the process this year.

Innovations to tackle COVID

Among the institute’s innovations to tackle COVID-19 include self-check kiosks, multiple diagnostic kits, low-cost UVC LED systems for disinfecting surfaces, spray-based antiviral coating and personal protective equipment, developing a vaccine, low-cost intubation boxes, drones for spraying disinfectants, software for safe air travel and farmers' welfare.

“IIT Guwahati has been in the forefront in the fight to stop the spread of novel coronavirus and has been providing scientific and technological support, an extension of sophisticated instrument facilities as well as involved in the immediate development of life-saving equipment to the state,” a statement issued here on Wednesday said.

“Since the initial days of the COVID-19 outbreak, IIT Guwahati has prepared hand sanitisers across departments and academic centres for public distribution,” the statement said.

IIT Guwahati alumni developed and deployed drones for spraying disinfectants in public spaces to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The drones can also be equipped as medical delivery and thermal imaging drones.

The institute had also joined hands with RR Animal Healthcare and supplied lakhs of ICMR-approved virus collection kits, RNA isolation kits to National Health Mission, Assam and across the country and have also developed RT-PCR kits.

Rapid antigen kits were also developed by the institute for Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan - a first for any educational institute.

(Edited by Laxmi Chyrmang)