IIT Roorkee Snippets

June, 2025

Dear Alumni,
Greetings from IIT Roorkee!

We are delighted to share the Snippet for June 2025. Institute Sports Council organized a restorative yoga camp, which encouraged the IITR community to actively engage in yoga. It was a wonderful opportunity to promote teamwork, fitness, and spirit.

We hope, you are enjoying these updates!

Best regards,

Prof. R.D. Garg
Dean of Resources & Alumni Affairs (DORA)
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

IITR News:

International Yoga Day – 21st June:

As part of the celebration of International Day of Yoga, IIT Roorkee Institute Sports Council organized a revitalizing Yoga Camp at LBS Stadium from June 11 to June 21. The camp included potent and enlightening sessions led by yoga specialists like Yogarishi Swami Karamveer Ji Maharaj, the founder of Maharshi Patanjali International Yoga Vidyapeeth, and Dr. Rudra Bhandari from Patanjali Yogpeeth, who motivated participants with traditional wisdom and transformative practices. In every session, as participants worked together to achieve inner peace and holistic wellness, the IITR community's energy, discipline, and collective spirit continued to shine through. The initiative came to a beautiful conclusion on June 21st, signalling the end of this path of mindfulness and well-being. Read More

Discovery of the Heaviest Proton-Emitting Isotope, 188At :

IIT Roorkee's nuclear physics group, led by Prof. P. Arumugam, has made a significant discovery by identifying the heaviest proton-emitting isotope, 188Astatine (188At). This finding, shared in Nature Communications, highlights IIT Roorkee's skills in advanced theoretical research and provides the first evidence of the Thomas-Ehrman shift in heavy nuclei. This success resulted from cooperation with top institutions from Finland, USA, and Portugal, reflecting IIT Roorkee's dedication to global research quality. This achievement strengthens IIT's position as a leader in nuclear physics and enhances our understanding of nuclear structure and behaviour. Read More

Science for Water Crisis Solutions – IIT Roorkee:

A panel discussion titled "Science for Water Crisis Solutions" will take place on October 7, 2025, during the XIIth Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS 2025). Organized by the World Meteorological Organization and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Program, it will focus on water crises linked to climate change and rising demand. Dr. Thom Bogaard, Prof. Stefan Uhlenbrook, and Dr. Benno Boer, with moderator Dr. Christophe Cudennec will be eminent speakers. The XIIth Scientific Assembly is jointly organised by IIT Roorkee, in partnership with National Institute of Hydrology, Irrigation Research Institute, and Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) four premier Indian institutions at the forefront of water science and research. Read More

IIT Roorkee Strengthens Academic and Cultural Ties with Slovakia (Slovak Republic):

The Indian Ambassador, H. E. Ms. Apoorva Srivastava, and Prof. Ing. Juraj Gazda from the Technical University of Košice met with Prof. Vimal Chandra Srivastava, Dean, International Relations, IIT Roorkee at the Indian Embassy in Bratislava. They discussed ways to improve academic and research collaborations between Indian and Slovak universities. Prof. Srivastava worked with the Embassy and the Technical University to explore initiatives like student exchange programs, joint research projects, and academic partnerships focused on innovation. This shows IIT Roorkee's commitment to global partnerships that enhance cultural exchange and strengthen educational ties between India and Slovakia while promoting academic and technological progress. Read More

Alumni in the News:

Dr. Manoj Pant (M.Sc. – Applied Geology - 1988):

Dr. Manoj Pant, a senior IAS officer, has been appointed again as the Chief Secretary of West Bengal after the government extended his service. He is a 1991 batch IAS officer from the West Bengal cadre. Before this role, he was the additional chief secretary in the Irrigation and Waterways Department. Originally from Hiradungri, Uttarakhand, Dr. Pant has extensive experience in governance. He did Master's in Applied Geology from IIT Roorkee in 1988, with gold medal. He also completed an MA in Public Administration from Syracuse University and earned a doctorate from Kolkata University. Throughout his career, he served as District Magistrate for Murshidabad and N24 Parganas and worked as a Senior Advisor at the World Bank and as secretary to then Finance Minister Dr. Pranab Mukherjee. Read More

Dr. M.N.V. Ravi Kumar (Ph.D. - Chemistry - 2000):

Dr. M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, an alumnus known for his work in pharmaceutical nanotechnology, has received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Krishna University in his hometown of Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He earned his PhD in Chemistry in 2000, focusing on drug delivery, and currently holds the position of Distinguished University Research Professor and Assistant Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research. Dr. Kumar's significant contributions to nanomedicine and leadership in establishing an important scientific centre have earned him many awards. He is a fellow of several prestigious organizations and has received notable accolades, including the Indian National Science Academy Medal. His ongoing research continues to inspire and shape the future of global science.

Book by Alumni:

Infinite Leadership

Dr. Balvir Talwar (Ph.D. Management - 2008):

Dr. Balvir Talwar, the first Ph.D. from the Department of Management Studies at IIT Roorkee and a former Executive Director at BHEL, launched his fifth book, Infinite Leadership, on June 2, 2025. The launch took place during the 25th anniversary celebration of the Department of Management Studies and was attended by faculty, industry leaders, and distinguished guests. The book, released by Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, explores modern leadership through vedic traditions, focusing on long-term goals, intrinsic motivation, and value-driven management. Prof. Pant highlighted the importance of vedic models in preparing future leaders. The event is the first of several planned to celebrate 25 years of academic excellence at the department. Read More

Alumni Visit:

Mr. Ambuj Kumar, Mr. Shashikant Verma, Mr. Manish Jain, and Mr. Sanchit Jain from the 1999 batch, who came to attend the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the 175-Year Gate and LBS Stand (99 Not Out), visited DoRA office on June 10, 2025.

Other Visit:

Scholarship Program Coordinators from Shraman Foundation:

The visit of Project Officer Ms. Lakshmy Balachandran and Ms. Astha included meetings with Prof. R.D. Garg, Dean of Resources and Alumni Affairs, and DoRA staff, Prof. Yogesh Vijay Hote, Chairperson, SCSP, and SCSP staff, where they discussed how the scholarship program was managed, the challenges students faced, and ways to help more deserving students, met with scholarship recipients on campus, and found their visit insightful and productive, appreciating the collaboration from all departments, discussing scholarship processes, meeting scholars, learning about research initiatives, and identifying areas for future support from the Shraman Foundation, including extending scholarship assistance for PhD and 5th-year students, offering career guidance and mentorship, supporting women in STEM, promoting health and mental wellbeing, collaborating on research, conducting skill development workshops, and providing technology grants, while expressing excitement about strengthening their partnership and looking forward to receiving proposals for joint projects and enhanced support.