Journey of Innovation unfolds with onboarding of E-YUVA & Innovation Fellows at Panjab University

Chandigarh, 6 December 2024

E-YUVA, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, organised an Onboarding and Orientation Programme to welcome the E-YUVA and Innovation Fellows in the Vice Chancellor’s Committee Room, PU, Chandigarh.

The E-YUVA Centre at Panjab University invited all E-YUVA fellows from various cities, including Visakhapatnam, Rishikesh, New Delhi, Fatehgarh Sahib and Chandigarh, along with their mentors. Additionally, three Innovation Fellows (one Post-Masters and two Post-Doctoral) from Mumbai and Chandigarh were also invited.

Delivering the inaugural address, PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig appreciated the efforts of the E-YUVA Centre in nurturing young talent and facilitating groundbreaking research. She also spoke about the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing global challenges and encouraged the fellows to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them at E-YUVA centre at PU.

The Guest of Honour, PU Dean of University Instruction Prof. Rumina Sethi highlighted the role of academic institutions in driving innovation. PU Director of the Research & Development Cell, Prof. Yojna Rawat spoke about the importance of research and development in promoting innovation ecosystems. PU Dean of International Students spoke about the university’s commitment to developing a global exchange of ideas and the importance of a diverse, inclusive environment for research and innovation.

Earlier, the event started with a warm welcome address by Prof. Rohit Sharma, Chief Coordinator of the E-YUVA Centre at Panjab University. He highlighted the significance of the E-YUVA initiative in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, emphasising the role of the fellows in contributing to various fields of research and technology. He expressed his enthusiasm about the diverse and impactful projects being presented by the fellows and the potential they hold for societal advancement.

The event also included addresses by several special guests, including Dr. Anil Wali, CEO of BITS BioCyTiH Foundation, Goa, who emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry to achieve meaningful outcomes.

All the E-YUVA Fellows and Innovation Fellows have been selected through a national call for projects following a rigorous evaluation process during the second call for proposals. All the projects were carefully assessed for their innovation, feasibility, and potential impact. The mentors of the selected fellows were introduced to the audience, each sharing insights into their research projects.

Dr. Poorvi Kulshreshtha from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, highlighted her innovative work on developing a non-invasive, effective, and affordable method to manage tremors in patients, which aims to significantly improve the quality of life for those suffering from neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Kulshreshtha highlighted how her solution could offer a sustainable and affordable treatment for tremor management, particularly for communities with limited access to healthcare.

Another project led by Dr. Jagdish Singh from Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab on converting conventional plastic into sustainable bioplastic was also showcased. He explained how his work aims to tackle the global plastic waste problem by creating biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives, offering a sustainable solution for industries that rely on plastic.

One of the projects, addressing critical social and environmental issue was showcased by Prof. Anupama Sharma from Dr. SSB UICET, Panjab University, Chandigarh. Her research team is working on the conversion of waste citrus fruit peels to create a natural and effective cleaner. This approach can help to reduce the harmful effects of chemical cleaners.

In line with the focus on sustainability, Dr. Sumit Sharma from Delhi Pharmaceutical Science and Research University, New Delhi, introduced his energy-efficient lighting solution, Jivot Biobulb MK-1. His project demonstrates how bioengineering can help address the growing need for sustainable energy solutions.

Dr. Santhi Latha Pandrangi from GITAM, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, showcased her work on a prototype that can quickly and accurately differentiate living and dead cells from 2D images and videos.

Ms. Vaishnavi Harshad Parmar from Mumbai introduced her high-sensitivity nanoparticle-based assay kit for detecting immune biomarkers in blood cancers, enhancing early diagnosis.

Another project led by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma from Chandigarh focused on Bryogreens Collagen, a sustainable, natural product aimed at improving skin health, offering an eco-friendly alternative in wellness.

Building on these advancements in health, another project led by Dr. Jaspreet Garg from Chandigarh explored a market-ready, novel nano-herbal osteo-protective product designed to manage osteoporosis and promote bone health.

Each of these selected projects is dedicated to addressing key social and environmental challenges, including reducing plastic waste, tackling chemical pollution, creating affordable energy solutions, and advancing healthcare.

The Innovation Fellows introduced their diverse and impactful projects, each tackling important health and wellness issues. These projects collectively showed a commitment to advancing healthcare and sustainability.

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