IIIT-H’s Annual R&D Showcase Makes It To The Metaverse
2 years ago Rituka MIIIT Hyderabad hosted its Annual R&D Showcase on the 12th of March 2022. The theme for this year’s R&D Showcase was “Tech- Away: Accelerating the Future”. Taking into account the technological shifts triggered by the pandemic, this event aims to through light on the emerging trends. The main attraction for this year’s Showcase was the hybrid model. Since the onset of Covid, this was the first time where the students could present their research physically. Therefore, opting for a hybrid model, the event was available either Physically, Virtually, or through the Metaverse.
Presenting a unique opportunity to the viewers, IIIT-H in an attempt to promote its ideology, organized this multi-model Showcase. The event made interactions with the faculties and students more tangible through demos, prototypes, and presentations. Firstly, the Showcase included roundtables on Quantum Science & Technology as well as Cyber Physical Convergence. In addition, the presentations included pitches on research product possibilities, & research connected startup demos. Over 600 research posters, demos and models from IIITH’s 28 research centres were presented. Delivering the inaugural keynote, Vinod K Nandicoori, Director, CCMB spoke on the importance of research in today’s world.
Thoughts On The Showcase
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. P J Narayanan said; “After an interrupted Showcase in 2020 and an online one in 2021, we are pleased to see our students back on campus. Being able to showcase their work in person after a gap of two years. A hybrid model has the option of viewing the research demos and posters in person, online on the RnD portal, as well as in the metaverse provided by NextMeet, a start up associated with the institute’s CIE. The response to the showcase has been very encouraging, it’s always a pleasure to share our research with the public. As a research-focussed institution, the enthusiasm of the students and the results of their research are what we cherish most.”
