SPOTLIGHT
Alumni Homecoming – The Annual Alumni Reunion 2023
Homecoming is always a memory to be cherished; and when it’s our Alumni Homecoming, its cherished by both – the alumni and the university.
The Annual Alumni Reunion was held on 16th and 17th December 2023. The two days saw the participation of our alumni from across the years and batches. The homecoming festivities started with the homecoming parade aptly titled ‘Marching back in time – reliving the memories’; followed by networking lunch and a reception hosted by the Vice Chancellor.
An exhibition ‘I, Non-I and the Other’ curated by Sibdas Sengupta was also a part of the reunion. The curator Sibdas Sengupta is an alumnus of the 2018 batch of the MFA (Master of Fine Arts). All participating artists were MFA alumni (right from the first batch in 2016). This show was on photographic image making from the Department over the last ten years.
The alumni left with loads of memories to cherish and with promises to meet again soon.
Shiv Nadar University at the Times Higher Education (THE) Campus Live UK&IE, Liverpool,
United Kingdom
Professor Rajat Kathuria, Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), Professor, Economics, and Professor Yasmeen Arif, Professor and Head of Department, Department of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) participated in Times Higher Education (THE) Campus Live UK&IE, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
The platform curated for higher education leaders, industry partners and policy experts, creates networking opportunities and helps build global partnerships around teaching and research.
As part of the event, Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. showcased their joint one-year Master’s program in Global Sociology. The program will commence in September 2024 and will be taught on both campuses.
Our team was also a part of the roundtable session on “Utilising the evolving role of AI in the digital transformation of the student experience” along with peers from academia and experts from THE.
Results announced for Crooked Lines – short story competition for young writers
At Shiv Nadar, we believe in nurturing the young minds. Seeds sown at right time gives right results.
This year saw the inaugural edition of annual short story competition for young writers –Crooked Lines. The competition was open to all Indian residents aged 16 – 18 years.
A large number of entries were received from all across India.
The final round was held on campus on November 25, 2023. This round had all the ingredients to make it a memorable final round for all – screening of “The Secret of Kells”-a 2009 animated fantasy film about the making of the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from the 9th century; a workshop for the shortlisted candidates; a campus tour for the parents; and a riveting panel discussion on “Crafting the Short Story” with eminent panellists Mr. G. Sampath, writer and Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu, Ms. Amrita Mukerji, Managing Editor, Harper Collins India, and Dr. Vikram Kapur, Professor and Head of Department, Department of English, and moderator Dr. Chinmay Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of English.
The following were the prize winners:
1st prize – Rs. 50,000 – Sumaiya Khan, Sharda Mandir Higher Secondary School, Goa
2nd prize – Rs. 30,000 – Triparna Das Gupta, DAV Model School
3rd prize – Rs. 20,000 – Aarohi Singh, The Gurukul Foundation School, Kashipur
Thanks to all the students, volunteers, parents and speakers for making Crooked Lines one for the books.
PLACEMENTS
PLACEMENTS
Students placed till November 2023 211
Prominent Placement Partners for the Class of 2024
Placement Partners for November
Internship Partners for Class of 2025 (till November 2023)
ACTIVITIES
Visit of delegation from University of California, Santa Cruz
A delegation from the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA visited the University on December 13, 2023. The delegation comprised of senior team members of UC Santa Cruz- Chancellor Cynthia Larive, Dean of the Arts, Celine Simizu, Assistant Vice Provost of Global Engagement, Becky George, Professor of Astronomy, Raja Guhathakurta and Assistant Vice Chancellor of Alumni Engagement, John Pine. They met with the senior academic team of the university, including the Deans. The team also met the students at the university. Discussions focussed on exploring collaborative opportunities at different levels between the two institutions.
Visit of Professor Nicholas Dirks, CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences
Professor Nicholas Dirks, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Academy of Sciences is a widely respected and highly influential historian and anthropologist. On December 13, 2023 Professor Dirk visited the university and met the academic team from School of Natural Sciences and School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The discussions were focused around his recently published book (published by the Cambridge University Press) and also on the possibilities of collaborating with the Academy. The collaboration could be (but not limited to) in form of fellowships and workshops in a wide variety of areas such as Climate change, Neuroscience, Nutrition, Ai and others.
Fireside Chat with Aalok Mehta, Senior Advisor for SeedAI, and Eisenhower Fellow, 2023
A fireside chat is an informal yet structured interview between a moderator and a guest. It’s a unique opportunity to uncover the speaker’s personal stories and ideas.
In this academic year, till now, we have had 2 such fireside chats – one with our Chancellor Shikhar Malhotra (details in the monthly report of September 2023) and the second one with Aalok Mehta, Senior Advisor for SeedAI, and Eisenhower Fellow, 2023.
Future of AI governance is a topic which is being actively discussed today across the globe. On November 7, 2023, a fireside chat was organized with Mr. Aalok Mehta, Senior Advisor for SeedAI, and Eisenhower Fellow, 2023 to get an insight on the said topic. Mr. Mehta has led US governmental and civil society relations for leading artificial intelligence firm, OpenAI. He engaged with US lawmakers and civil society organizations as the company seeks regulation to establish rules of the road for this powerful but potentially perilous new technology.
The conversation was moderated by our Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ananya Mukherjee, and was attended by 200+ students, staff and faculty.
National Milk Day celebrations
National Milk Day is celebrated on November 26 every year to commemorate the efforts of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the brain behind the White Revolution in India. Dr. Kurien played an instrumental role in the development of the dairy industry in India. His efforts also made India self-sufficient as far as its dairy needs were concerned.
The university partnered with Amul for the National Milk Day. A tree plantation drive was organized on campus. Students, faculty and staff of the university along with the representatives from Amul participated in the drive.
Over 2000+ participants, 55 institutions participated in the 2nd edition of Surge – flagship sports meet of Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR
The second edition of our flagship sports meet – Surge, saw 2000+ participants, 55+ institutions and over 550 matches, making it most awaited sporting event in the region.
The overall rankings were as follows:
Overall Championship – Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR
1st runner-up- O.P. Jindal University
2nd runner-up – Ashoka University
3rd runner-up- Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University
Fit India Week 2023
‘Fit India School Week’ was conceived in the year 2019 with the imperative need of creating awareness about fitness among children, parents, teachers and school staff. Continuing with the enthusiasm of the schools and in pursuit of spreading the message of fitness among various segments of the population, this year, the Fit India Mission decided to expand the outreach of the Fit India School Week to include colleges, universities and higher education institutions. Therefore, the 5th edition of Fit India School Week was renamed as ‘Fit India Week’ for schools and universities.
The university in coordination with University Grants Commission (UGC), in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, celebrated the Fit India Week from November 15-21, 2023. During the week, Badminton, Basketball and Football tournaments were organized for the students.
Yoga Asana Open Tournament 2023
On November 7, 2023, the university organized a Yoga Asana tournament. There were two categories - Amateur and Elite. The competition saw a healthy number of participants in both the categories. The winners were:
Amateur Group
Winner: Suhith K N
Runner Up: Tamanna V
Elite Group
Winner: Subham Prajapati
Runner-Up: Diya Budlakoti
FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS
Faculty Achievements
Prof. Atul Mishra, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations and Governance Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences was invited by the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, Ministry of External Affair, Government of India, to deliver a lecture to diplomats from 30 ‘global south’ countries for the first Global South Young Diplomats Forum, which our honourable Prime Minister Mr. Modi had announced in January this year. He spoke on the global geopolitical landscape and India’s approach.
Professor (Dr.) Monica Juneja, Distinguished Professor, Department of Art, Media and Performance, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, has been conferred the MeyerStruckmann Prize 2023 for her work in the field of Transcultural Studies. With her theory of transculturation, she addresses how the interweaving of nation-building and a “national imagination” with the formation of humanities disciplines constitutes the fundamental premises and value structures of the subjects.
STUDENTS IN FOCUS: EXCELLING
IN SPORTS
Students in focus: Excelling in Sports
Our students are making us proud by competing in national and international level sports events.
Sunita Patel, 4th year, Bachelor of Management Studies, participated in HCL 79th Senior National Squash Championship 2023, Chennai
Abhay Vasudeva, 1st year, Bachelor of Management Studies, got selected for Khelo India Youth Games 2024, Tamil Nadu (event – Squash)
Chazerina Benjamin, 1st year, B.A. (Research), Sociology, got selected for Khelo India Youth Games 2024, Tamil Nadu (event – Squash)
Meyyappan L, 1st year, Bachelor of Management Studies, got selected for Khelo India Youth Games 2024, Tamil Nadu (event – Squash)
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
Dr. Parthapratim Munshi, Professor, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences – his project titled ‘Purely Organic Multifunctional Molecular Materials with Ferroelectric and Negative Thermal Expansion Properties’ has been approved for grant by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. SERB aims to build up best management systems which would match the best global practices in the area of promotion and funding of basic research. The research grant of INR 40 lakhs has been awarded from December 2023 to December 2026 (3 years).
Faculty Recruitment
ENGAGEMENT WITH HIGH SCHOOLS
A life with Mathematics – Careers and Opportunities
An online masterclass on the topic ‘A life with Mathematics – Careers and Opportunities’ by Dr. Ambar Habib, professor, Department of Mathematics, School of Natural Sciences was organized on November 4, 2023. The same was attended by school students from across the country.
Physics Day
Physics Day was organized on November 16, 2023, for school students of class VIII to XII. 75 students from 3 schools (Delhi Public School, Dadri; Shiv Nadar School, NOIDA and Shiv Nadar School, Faridabad) attended the same. Physics Day was conducted in collaboration with Department of Physics with multiple events planned all day long.
FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Green Campus Initiatives
A 22-seater E Bus was added in our existing Campus Shuttle fleet. This will not only help in increasing the mobility on campus but also a step towards reducing the carbon foot print and dependency on fossil fuel.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Community Initiatives
Dadri Development Program (DDP) aims to comprehensively develop the Dadri Block in Gautam Buddha Nagar District, Uttar Pradesh. Its key focus areas currently encompass education (school /community sports), healthcare, skilling and livelihood, agriculture, social safety (with a special emphasis on women), and nature conservation.
Initiatives undertaken in the year 2023-24
Health:
This year two dedicated interventions were launched across 8 villages of Dadri. These were as follows:
• Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) Awareness Campaigns: DDP team along with its on boarded NGOs implemented community-based intervention for improving health outcomes in 8 villages of Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. 80 awareness camps on non-communicable diseases (NCD) were organized in 8 intervention villages in Dadri targeting prevalent NCDs like stroke, cancer, COPD, cardiac health, and diabetes. This initiative directly benefited 3,922 community members and had a broader impact on a population of over 26,000.
• Health Chaupal: designed to raise awareness about six critical health conditions, namely women’s health, diabetes, cardiac health and hypertension, orthopaedics, dental issues, and eye care. DDP team along with NGO partners conducted 48 Health Chaupals focusing on key healthcare areas such as diabetes, cardiac health, cancer, orthopaedics, eye care, and dental care. These sessions, led by specialist doctors, attracted 3,811 community members. Diagnostic blood tests were carried out for 2,828 community members in the 8 intervention villages.members in the 8 intervention villages.
Education (Khelo Dadri Initiative)
Khelo Dadri initiative aims to enhance health and fitness, bolster socio-emotional learning (SEL) skills, and improve employability. This initiative integrates sports seamlessly into the curriculum, with a focus on the holistic development of youth and children in Dadri. The pilot initiative encompasses sports such as Volleyball, Football, Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, and Athletics. This initiative comprises two key components:
• MILES (Sports for Development) Intervention: Actively engaging school children in inclusive sports education, MILES focuses on fostering their health, fitness, and socialemotional skills through sports and play.
• Sports Excellence Program: Identifying talented students in specific sports disciplines, this program provides structured training and competitive exposure at district, mandal, state, and national levels, aiming to nurture and highlight their athletic abilities.
• The Khelo Dadri Athletics team from Mihir Bhoj PG Co-ed Degree College took part in the Chaudhary Charan Singh University Athletics tournament. A total of 10 students represented Khelo Dadri across various sports, including the discus throw, javelin, 800m, 400m, 1500m, 3000m, 4x400 relay, and 100m, and won three medals in 1500m, 3000m, and 4x100m relay races. Highlights (November – December 2023)
• Khelo Dadri players participated and won 4 medals in various athletics games in Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR’s annual sports meet SURGE.
January 2-7, 2024
The Young Thinkers Forum Winter School
A multidisciplinary winter school for school students grade 8-12. The students will be exposed to various disciplines: liberal arts, management, engineering and sciences, which will help in fostering innovative thinking and leadership skills. The immersive program would give the students an opportunity to experience the campus life, will include academic sessions, skill building sessions and focus on life skills.
January 19, 2024
– Annual Partners Meet
The Meet will bring together 100+ organisations from various sectors and industries, who collectively aspire to share innovative practices and forge partnerships. It will be a day of a day of thought-provoking conversations, networking and collaborations.
February 1-3, 2024 - 4th Genomics India Conference
The theme of the conference is ‘Harnessing genomics for a sustainable future’. The biggest genomics event with participants from more than 10 countries. GIC2024 will bring together industry, academia, startups, government, and profit and nonprofit organizations of the biotech sector. The fourth in the Genomics India series, this conference will feature cutting-edge research into the latest advances in genetic technologies, with a focus on sharing path-breaking findings. https://snu.edu.in/events/shiv-nadar-university-hosts-genomics-india-conference-2024/
February 15-17, 2024 International Conference on non-model organisms
March 12-15, 2024 8th IFAC international Conference - ACODS 2024Conference
The International Conference on Advances in Control and Optimization of Dynamic Systems (ACODS) being organized in association with Automatic Control and Dynamical Optimization Society (ACDOS) which is an Indian NMO of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC). The aim of the conference is to bring together an international community of researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and research labs to disseminate new developments and advances in control and optimization of dynamical systems.
https://snu.edu.in/events/8th-ifac-international-conference-acods-2024/
March 20-23, 2024 International Conference on Sustainable Nanomaterial Integration and Organization for Energy and Environment (iSNIOE2)
Organized by the Department of Physics, School of Natural Sciences, this conference will bring international researchers and industries under one umbrella to share the latest advances in low dimensional materials science and technology for various energy and environmental applications.
https://snu.edu.in/events/department-of-physics-school-of-natural-sciencesorganizingisnioe2/
