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New student orientation: Interaction with Vice-Chancellor October 10, 2022
Transition from an admitted student to a committed student ready to succeed!

SRM University-AP welcomed students to campus on Monday, October 10, 2022, in an event that commenced at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium. The interactive session with Vice-Chancellor Prof Manoj K Arora aimed for the smooth transition of incoming students to university life.

Students shared their goals and aspirations about the future on the occasion. “I want to be a rocket scientist who’s also a musician”, said Dhruv, a first year Mechanical engineering student. Vinisha, a student from BSc Integrative Biology expressed her dream of becoming a molecular biologist and winning Nobel Prize in future. Several other students also talked enthusiastically about their career goals such as becoming an IAS officer, game developer, artist, software engineer etc. Prof Arora encouraged students to work towards their goals and elucidated how SRM AP can guide them in achieving those lofty goals.

Registrar Dr R Premkumar, Chief Finance and Accounts Officer (CFAO) Mrs Suma N, Director – ITKM Dr K Mohan, Director – Communications Mr Pankaj Belwariar, Director – Sports Dr Vijay Kumar Upadhyay, Director – Student Affairs Mr Anil Kumar Nigam, Associate Director – International Relations and Higher Studies Dr Naga Swetha Pasupuleti, Associate Director – Entrepreneurship Mr Udayan Bakshi, Assistant Director – Student Affairs Ms Revathi Balakrishnan, Dean – Faculty Development Prof Sudhindra Nath Panda, Dean – School of Engineering and Sciences Prof B V Babu, Dean – School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Prof Bandi Kamaiah, Dean – Academic Affairs Dr Vinayak Kalluri, Associate Dean-in-Charge (Engineering) – School of Engineering and Sciences Prof T Ragunathan, Medical Officer Dr Ch Lakshmi Rajyam, student counsellors, student council representatives and other members of university executive leadership addressed the students.

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2nd Convocation ceremony: Proudly honouring the graduates of 2022 October 10, 2022
SRM University- AP conducted its 2nd convocation ceremony for the Class of 2022 on Saturday, October 08, 2022, at 3 pm. A total of 1149 students were awarded their graduate degrees at the glorious event held at the APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium. “As you look forward to the future, I wish you taking action on the key technical, social, and environmental issues that our world is facing today,” said the chief guest of the day, Dr K Radhakrishnan, former ISRO Chairman, in his address.

The ceremony commenced with the welcome address and annual report by Vice-Chancellor Prof Manoj K Arora. “In our objective of being a globally connected, nationally relevant, and regionally transformative university, we are on the path of excellence in knowledge creation and dissemination,” commended him while highlighting the university’s performance and achievements in the academic milieu.

The event continued with the convocation address of Founder Chancellor Dr T R Paarivendhar and Pro-Chancellor, Dr P Satyanarayanan. They enunciated how SRM sets out on its journey with an unflinching vision to grow into a trailblazer in higher education, offering learning par excellence and keeping in line with global academic standards.

“We have always envisioned being a changemaker in the areas of research, placement, entrepreneurship, and higher studies, and we are immensely proud of the profuse accomplishments of our students in these fields, be it the inspiring research endeavours, enviable placement offers, innovative startup plans and exciting opportunities for higher learning,” said Dr P Satyanarayanan.

Pro Vice-chancellor of SRM AP, Prof D Narayana Rao, read out the Citation and Chancellor, Dr T R Paarivendhar conferred the honorary doctorate on Dr S Chandrasekhar, Chairperson, TDB, and Secretary, DST. In his acceptance speech, Dr S Chandrasekhar congratulated the graduands and talked about his vision of a sustainable planet where India becomes an innovation-driven country in the next 20 years. He further called upon the girl students of SRM AP to be the next generation leaders of tomorrow.

The ceremony proceeded to hand the degrees of merit to the deserving students. Over the years, SRM University- AP has carved a niche for itself in the realm of higher education. The learning destination has achieved numerous milestones for its phenomenal academic performance and purpose-driven endeavours in the Indian educational scenario. SRM AP has earned an enviable reputation of being one of the finest emerging universities in the country within a short span of time. “The university campus has become a breeding ground for excellence and is becoming a revolution in the academic landscape of the country,” remarked the students when asked about their feelings after graduating from SRM University- AP.

Awards, degrees, and medals were presented for BTech, BBA, BA, BSc, MBA and PhD programmes, and the pledge was administered. Members of the Board of Management and Academic Council, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof D Narayana Rao, Registrar Dr R Premkumar, Former Vice-Chancellor and Advisor of the university Prof V S Rao, Deans, Directors, Heads of the departments, faculty and staff members, alums, parents of graduands were present on the occasion.

The ceremony culminated with the National anthem, and all the graduates dispersed in exuberant joy!

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In-situ Al–5ZrB2 composite foams : Comparable alternative for conventional Al foams October 7, 2022

Closed-cell metal foams are crucial to heavy industry machinery as they primarily function as impact-absorbing materials. Stabilizing closed-cell metal foams is a pivotal element in the process of manufacturing closed-cell metal foams. On this note, Prof GS Vinod Kumar from The Department of Mechanical Engineering has published a paper entitled Production, stability, and properties of in-situ Al–5ZrB2 composite foams in the journal Materials Science and Engineering: A with an impact factor of 6.044.

Abstract

Stabilization is an essential requirement to produce closed-cell metal foams. In the melt route of foaming, usually ceramic particles are used as foam stabilizers. For the first time, the present study introduces ZrB2 particles as foam stabilizers. We demonstrate the foaming of in-situ based Al composite containing submicron ZrB2 particles. The effect of foaming temperature and holding time on the structural and mechanical properties of the foams was studied. The composites and foams were characterized using XRD, SEM/EDS, and optical scanning techniques. The mechanical properties of the foams were determined by subjecting the foams to a quasi-static compression test. Submicron ZrB2 particles present in the cell wall and at the gas-solid interface promoted foam stability. All the foams exhibited a good cellular structure with high expansion. Among the foams, the foams prepared at 680 ºC with a holding time of 120 s exhibited the smallest cell size and the best mechanical properties. The structural and mechanical properties of the Al–5ZrB2 foams were found to be comparable to conventional foams.

Novel in-situ ZrB2 particles were produced to form Al-5ZrB2 composites. ZrB2 particles present in the melt tend to stabilize the H2 gas bubbles produced from the decomposition of TiH2. The macrostructure was best observed when foamed at 680 ºC and held for 120 sec. Because of its finer pores ( ̴ 3mm ), excellent compressive strength and energy absorption capacity was exhibited comparable to conventional Al foams.

The paper observes a wide-range of possibilities for the application of in-situ Al–5ZrB2 composite foams to modify bullet proof vests, car body parts, sound and heat proof walls in theatres, naval ship bodies, etc.

Prof Vinod Kumar also discusses the future application of this technique in use of metallic powders as blending agent for effective dispersion of blowing agent in the melt and in the field of compressive and energy absorption studies for Al composite foams.
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SRM University- AP announces Elon Fellowship for budding entrepreneurs October 7, 2022

SRM University- AP inaugurated Elon Fellowship on September 30, 2022. It is a novel cohort that aspires to create a startup ecosystem. The Fellowship launched will onboard 60+ venture teams and provide extensive training for four months to facilitate the development of their idea to the prototype stage and beyond. Selected venture groups would receive internal funding up to INR 50 lakhs and external funding upto INR 1 crore for their project development.

The Elon Fellowship poster was launched by the Vice Chancellor of SRM University- AP, Prof Manoj K Arora; Registrar, Dr R Premkumar; and other dignitaries. “The Fellowship opens up new avenues in the domain of entrepreneurship and innovation. It provides students with a well-funded scheme that facilitates fruitful development of their creative ventures”, asserted Prof Arora.

Mr Udayan Bakshi, the Associate Director of Entrepreneurship, SRM AP commented that more than seven portfolio startups of the university have crossed a total revenue of 25 crores annually, making our institution a formidable pioneer in the field of entrepreneurship.

The Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society, Government of Andhra Pradesh, congratulated this innovative scheme. Mr Anil T, the CEO of APIS, extended his support in furthering the cause in promoting young entrepreneurs. The Elon Fellowship grants students a supportive cohort for their journey to entrepreneurship.
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The Saurvi initiative – A new wave for women empowerment October 6, 2022

Upliftment of women is the chief requisite that leads the way to empowerment of a community as well as the nation. The representation of womankind on multitude spheres is imperative for a progressive society to advance into a fair and just future.

Saurvi, the woman leadership and entrepreneurship student community under the Home of Leaders, has become a torch-bearer in creating a novel path for women empowerment by encouraging women into the field of entrepreneurship. The student initiative has recently conducted a bootcamp at Maris Stella Women’s College, Vijayawada AP, to help them create a startup and leadership ecosystem. The interaction between the budding entrepreneurs and students has fostered a positive outlook towards entrepreneurship, leadership and engaging in creative business ventures.

The Saurvi initiative aims at empowering women by cultivating livelihood skills among the women communities and promoting leadership opportunities and business propositions among women from all walks of life. They collaborate with numerous NGOs to generate awareness as well as to nurture impactful women leaders in the field of entrepreneurship.

The initiative has begun to gather momentum and recognition, for their vision, mission and commitment for the cause. Smt KGV Saritha, Superintendent of Police, Andhra Pradesh, offered her words of appreciation for the ingenuity of the initiative to promote women empowerment. The Saurvi enterprise has in view to create 10 women entrepreneurs by the end of 2023, 15 by 2024 and aims to double the number for every consecutive year.
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15 Lakh investment for Manideep’s Hatchlab venture SPOCSQ Pvt October 6, 2022
Making an impact on society through revolutionary innovations is not an everyday thing. Manideep Surusomayajula from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering bagged an investment of 15 Lakh for his Hatchlab venture SPOCSQ Pvt. This is the first investment that has been secured by the startup project.

His startup deals with chip-based certification processes using Blockchain Technology. SPOCSQ is in the process of developing a tamper-proof certificate system based on chip and blockchain technology.

The investing company ThredzIT Information Technology Pvt. Ltd is willing to invest 20-30 Lakh for the final version of the product. This achievement is a milestone in Manideep’s career as it demonstrates his passion for entrepreneurship and innovation.
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Mani Saketh’s exciting Marquee offer of CTC 21 LPA September 30, 2022
Mani Saketh is beyond happy to get placed with a Marquee offer of CTC 21 LPA in his third year of under graduation at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He is placed at Western Digital, the company that introduced hard discs to the world. An immense commitment to obtain a Marquee offer was the driving force of his placement journey. He believed in keeping hope, persistence, and perfection alive at heart as they procreate the momentum to learn anything.

The company he got placed in basically works on HDD’s, SSD’s, Pendrive, NAND Flash-based Storage devices, etc. It is a hard disk drive manufacturer and data storage company. It is also the parent company of SanDisk. It was his internship that led him to this enormous placement offer.

He is in awe of the robust support system that the Directorate of Corporate Relations and Career Services is. “They helped me a lot by bringing many Marquee companies at the beginning, which made me work faster on my skills. The way they helped us by conducting various training sessions, responding very quickly whenever we have a single doubt or concern is commendable”, said Mani Saketh with most gratitude.

He was part of the Marquee Training Batch, where he got the freedom to practice whatever he wanted. But at the end of the day, all he wanted was to show some progress. Students who attended the Marquee training session used to solve coding questions, and if anyone failed to find the solutions, they had discussions in peer groups. This helped the students with the benefits of self-learning. The interactions among students during the problem-solving sessions encouraged their communication skills and improved their efficiency in resolving any coding question.

Mani Saketh thanked Mr Laxmanan Angu Raju, one of the senior managers of the Directorate of CR&CS, for having hope and confidence in him. According to him, getting placed at Western Digital wouldn’t be possible without the help of Ms Akhila, CR&CS executive. The mentoring and training of the placement team stayed with him throughout the placement session. He also thanked Dr Jaya Lakshmi Tangirala, his placement mentor, who made him realise the importance of CSE core fundamentals in the initial days of placement training.

As of now, Mani Saketh wants to convert this internship offer to a full-time offer and would like to work in the organisation for at least three years. Later, based on his interest, he wants to study further and grow in the company.
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Community training on CPR at SRM University- AP September 30, 2022

SRM University- AP in collaboration with AIIMS Mangalagiri and the American Heart Association, organised community training on CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – Hands-only CPR) on World Heart Day – September 29, 2022. The training programme with the slogan ‘Your Hands Can Save The Lives’, was designed to generate perception on the significance of CPR in sustaining a life at a crucial medical instance. Dr C H Lakshmi Rajyam, Medical Officer, SRM AP addressed the gathering on the importance of heart health and CPR training.

Community Training on hands-only CPR held by the university aimed to educate participants on the essential skill of performing Hands-Only CPR to sustain life until advanced help arrives by artificially circulating oxygen to the brain. Trainers from AIIMS conducted the session through simulation mode with one mannequin per person. The methodology of proper implementation of CPR during an emergency was conveyed through a video-supported practical session.

The World Heart Day is celebrated on September 29 to create awareness on the importance of heart health and prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs is one of the leading causes of death claiming approximately 18.6 million lives every year globally. The theme for World Heart Day for 2022 is “Use Heart for Every Heart.”

World Heart Day celebrations at SRM AP promotes the idea of heart health as a fundamental human right and an essential component of global health justice.

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Two paper publications from Prof G S Vinod Kumar and his scholar September 29, 2022
A robust body of published works helps advance research capabilities and contribute to the larger research domain. Two latest paper publications from the Department of Mechanical Engineering are co-authored by Prof G S Vinod Kumar and his PhD student, Mr Akshay Devikar.

The first paper, Stabilization and Mechanical Properties of Mg-3Ca and Mg-3Ca/SiC/5p foams alloyed with Beryllium, got published in the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance and had an impact factor of 2.036.

Liquid processing of Magnesium is complicated due to its uncontrolled flammability in the presence of oxygen. However, owing to the lightweight property of Mg, it can be used as a structural material in various sectors such as naval, aerospace, automobile, biomedical, heat exchangers, and military applications. Therefore, using Ca and Be as alloying elements and oxidation preventers, the researchers produced lightweight Mg foams (of density 0.17 g/cm 3), which float on water. SiC particles provide excellent Mg foam stabilisation as well. The compression tests revealed the highest strength for Mg-3Ca foam containing both Be and SiC. Thus, the burning problem of Mg was overcome by adding Ca and a trace quantity of Be to make lightweight foams, which were strengthened by SiC particles.

Abstract

The present paper investigates the stabilisation of Mg-3Ca alloy and Mg-3Ca/SiC/5p composite foams with and without the addition of 0.12 wt.% beryllium. In Mg-3Ca alloy foam, Be addition has significantly improved the expansion and pore structure. Whereas, in the case of Mg-3Ca/SiC/5p composite foams, the SiC particles stabilised the foam effectively, while Be addition did not show any distinguishable improvement in the foam structure. The formation of BeO and the dense coverage of SiC particles in the gas-solid interface of Mg-3Ca and Mg-3Ca/SiC/5p composite foams, respectively, are the reasons for the foam stabilization. Mg-3Ca/SiC/5p composite foam exhibited the lowest foam density of 0.10 g/cm3. The quasi-static compression test shows that Mg-3Ca-0.12Be/SiC/5p composite foam containing Be exhibited lower foam density and higher normalized compressive strength. The energy absorption capacity per unit foam density in Be containing foams was also higher.

The second paper, the Effect of Beryllium on the stabilization of Mg-3Ca alloy foams, is published in the journal Materials Science and Engineering B with an impact factor of 3.407.

Mg-3Ca alloy foams of density as low as 0.25 g/cm3 were successfully produced via the liquid metal route in an open-air atmosphere with trace Be addition. The stable BeO layer formed at the gas-solid interfaces of pores restricted the Mg + CO2/CO reaction, thereby reducing the gas loss responsible for foaming. Be addition (0.13 wt.%) resulted in a high-volume expansion of Mg-3Ca foam (694 %). Metallic single films also exhibited smooth and crack-free interfaces with Be addition.

Abstract

The present work is the first-ever study where the influence of beryllium (Be) addition on the stability of Mg alloy foam was investigated. Mg-3Ca alloy foams were produced by the liquid processing route with and without Be micro-addition. CaCO3 was used as a blowing agent. Mg-3Ca alloy foam without Be resulted in stable foam but exhibited low expansion with poor foam structure. Be addition significantly increased foam expansion and improved their structure. The expansion and the structure of the Mg foams obtained are comparable with that of commercially available aluminum foams. The XPS analysis confirmed the presence of BeO at the gas-solid interface of Mg foam. Be stabilizes the gas-solid interface of the foam by forming a smooth and crack-free surface of the BeO layer, which prevents the continuous oxidation of liquid foam and minimises the loss of blowing gas, thereby enhancing the stability of Mg-3Ca alloy foams.

Bulletproof vests, Car body parts, Hip and Knee implants, Sound and heat-proof walls in theatres, Naval ship bodies, etc., are some of the applications of the research findings. The researchers have collaborated with Dr Manas Mukherjee (Associate Professor) and his PhD student, Mr Biswaranjan Muduli of the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, for this work. Stabilisation using other alloying elements and ceramic particles for improving mechanical properties of Mg foams specific to application requirements and establishing structure-property relationship from the point of view of melt viscosity by altering the foaming parameters are the future plans of the research team.
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SRM University- AP observes Research Day 5th Edition September 29, 2022
Research Day celebration at SRM University-AP continues to uplift the momentum of various research endeavors at the university and actuate the agenda of a research-oriented educational institution. The illustrious event held on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, fosters the exchange of information across disciplines, encourages extensive research projects, and appreciates innovative efforts in research. Dr Buddha Chandrasekhar, Chief Guest of the event, lauded the fundamental ideology of the initiative and highlighted the need to develop Indian students as world-class skilled workforce and entrepreneurs by providing real-time internship opportunities where industry and academy stay connected.

Prof D Narayana Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor, SRM AP, welcomed Dr Buddha Chandrasekhar, Chief Coordinating Officer, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and other esteemed dignitaries. “Research and innovations are integral to growing and sustaining a large and vibrant society and economy. Innovations in science and technology are an integral part of the long-term growth and dynamism of any nation,” he stated and proceeded to elaborate how universities are proven as creators of new knowledge, innovative ideas, providers of skilled manpower, agents of social change, and symbols of international attention and research.

Dr Buddha Chandrasekhar shared his concerns regarding the widening gap between academy and industry and expressed his determination to reduce at least 5% unemployment in the country. He also demonstrated the websites 1crore aicte and aicte internship developed under the Ministry of Education and explained the arena of possibilities it opens to the youth of India.

As part of Research Day, students and faculty were advised to submit their research abstracts. A special issue of the research abstracts booklet comprised of all the selected abstracts was unveiled during the event. Gold medals and certificates have been awarded to qualified students and their mentors for their research work in various thematic areas. Dr Buddha Chandrasekhar displayed his enthusiasm to know further details of their research works and urged all the awardees to meet him in person after the event for a brief interaction.

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