Deep Focus – Rendezvous

When worlds converge

Srivatsan — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 05:28:16 +0000

IIT Madras Zanzibar is located in Zanzibar Island, off the East African mainland, and is being planned as part of a unique educational partnership between India and Zanzibar-Tanzania. Since it is the first ever IIT campus outside of India, all eyes are quite literally on the Zanzibar campus.
Apart from a comprehensive curriculum that includes all aspects of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, students will have several academic opportunities during the course of their career. These include study abroad/semester exchange programs with IIT-M’s partner institutions in the UK and Australia among other countries; internships with various globally-relevant companies; and a chance to meet some of the course requirements at IIT Madras in Chennai, India.
Does this all make you even more curious about how the campus looks? Say no more. Here, in this exclusive photo feature, we take you on a campus tour on things to look forward to in the Zanzibar campus. Yes, it’s a picturesque location!

Captions by The Office of Global Engagement

Until the 215-acre permanent campus is fully ready for operations, students will be put up in the temporary campus at the Bweleo district of Zanzibar. For the permanent campus, the land has been identified and approved.

The hostel can accommodate 70 students in total from both programs. It must be noted that the building that was given to IIT-M wasn’t designed for a residential program. The work for the dining facility too is currently underway.

Initially, it was decided that faculty will either be deputed from IIT Madras or recruited from India. Along with admissions, faculty recruitment drives also took place simultaneously and so far, five faculty members have been recruited. At Zanzibar, all faculty members and staff will be put up in an international housing colony next to the main campus.

Interlocking bricks have been used for flooring all through the campus. Most of the remaining work for the campus will be ready before classes for the first academic year (2023- 24) commence in October 2023. Like IIT-M, sustainability will be the priority at the Zanzibar campus too.

Plans are underway to install IIT-M’s iconic Gajendra Circle at the campus. Unlike the Gajendras of IIT-M, the Zanzibar campus will have Indian and African elephants holding the respective country flags

IIT Madras Zanzibar offers two full-time academic programs: a four-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and a two-year Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The total student intake will be 70.

Fishing for ideas

Srivatsan — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:43:43 +0000

As the Chair Professor at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras, R.I Sujith heads one of the high-profile laboratories in the world through the Centre of Excellence for studying Critical Transitions in Complex Systems – both in engineering and nature.

In a career spanning decades, Sujith has over 390 technical publications, 14 patents and has written a book on Thermoacoustic Instability. His research particularly focuses on complex systems such as turbulent thermo-fluid systems, climate systems, cloud dynamics, and infectious diseases exhibiting critical transitions that can lead to disastrous consequences.

The Centre of Excellence, which boasts of world-class facilities, strives to unravel the science behind these transitions in diverse systems and develop trained manpower and translational technologies. We take a deep dive into the high-functioning lab in this photo feature.

Captions by Jayesh Dhadphale, a PhD student from Aerospace Engineering

Setting up the laser receiver for Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer (PDPA) to study the effect of turbulence on droplet formation.

Laboratory-scale setup to study thermoacoustic instability in axial combustors. The setup is equipped with facilities to acquire pressure, chemiluminescence images, and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements at high sampling rates.

Captivating patterns found in clouds are seen in the laboratory setup used for studying the formation of rain droplets.

One of the few facilities in the world to study thermoacoustic instability in annular combustors used in gas turbine engines. The setup is uniquely built with large transverse dimensions to facilitate axial and transverse instability.

Stabilising the flame on the burner with rectangular slots is not an easy task. One needs to be focused and patient.

The slotted burner setup provides a test bench for rapid prototyping and testing new ideas related to thermoacoustic systems. The dynamics observed in the slotted burner belies its simplicity.

Listening to the loud singing flames is an overwhelming experience. The lab members regulate the combustor operation from a separate control room adhering to safety measures.

The state-of-the-art facilities trigger the creativity of students, helping them come up with fresh ideas. Hands-on experience of these facilities transform students into expert researchers.

Prof. Sujith frequently participates in brainstorming sessions with students from which innovative ideas emerge. He believes in knowledge sharing and collective learning.

Look, there’s a deer!

Srivatsan — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 07:18:49 +0000

In February, we invited international students studying in various universities across Chennai to take part in Experience IIT Madras, a one-of-a-kind student fair on campus. They were given a rounded picture of the institution; the various programmes it offers; facilities and scholarships that are available to students coming from diverse backgrounds. The day-long event, organised for the first time by IIT-M, saw the participation of over 90 students and faculty members from eight universities who had the opportunity to explore the campus via a tour that had several pit stops. We captured their experience and enthusiasm in the form of a photo feature. We let the pictures speak for themselves.

Captions by Deepa Alexander. Text by Sethuram Vasudevan. from the Office of Global Engagement, IIT-M

Students networked with peers and made new friends on campus.

An interactive online game on Kahoot ensured laughs and smiles. Teaching through games is one initiative faculty use to make learning fun.

Students walk through the beautiful green lanes of the campus during the tour.

The wide array of programmes offered by IIT-M were presented during the session. Students took detailed notes.

The Manohar C Watsa Stadium, houses an eight-lane synthetic track for running, long jump, triple jump, pole vault and shot-put. Students stop for a quick selfie, before calling it a day.

Experience IIT-M took participants on a bus ride on the campus.

The international student’s community at IIT-M is diverse and vibrant with the number currently standing at 100 from across the world. The visiting international students pose for a picture.