The Department of Psychology at SRM University-AP is pleased to announce Dr Dhamodharan’s pivotal insights, which surfaced at the culmination of the 33rd Annual Convention of the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP), orchestrated by the Department of Applied Psychology at GITAM School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Vishakhapatnam. Dr Dhamodhran, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology published his paper, titled “A Study of Fishing Community Parents’ Perspectives on Children’s Education, Health, and Discipline,” which has received profound attention for its insightful analysis.

Abstract:

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prioritise addressing poverty, promoting good health, and ensuring quality education, among other objectives. However, coastal villages often experience profound socio-economic, financial, and educational disadvantages, leading to recurring financial hardships. The literacy levels within fishing communities are notably deficient, exacerbating challenges in accessing fundamental amenities such as clean drinking water, adequate shelter, educational opportunities, and general well-being. The pervasive poverty and vulnerability prevalent in these areas significantly impede children from fishing villages from regularly attending school, thereby impacting their overall health, educational attainment, and mental well-being. The present study explains the fisher community’s parental perceptions about children’s education, health, and corporal punishment. A cross-section design was used. Samples were selected from four clusters (N = 100, each cluster = 25) from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. A semi-structured interview method was used. The data were analysed with SPSS and thematic analysis. The result of the study indicates that most of the fisher parents are uneducated, and parents give importance to their children’s education, health, and career choices. Lack of proper income, lack of awareness about academic guidance, corporal punishment, and child rights in the community. The study suggests developing more intervention programmes at the family, school, and community levels to improve the fishing community families and the well-being of the children.

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp 1.0 Demo Day, hosted by the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at SRM University-AP on March 31, 2024, marked a fitting culmination of rigorous entrepreneurship training for aspiring student and faculty entrepreneurs. Dynamic pitches were presented by participants through the demonstration of their innovative ideas, astute business models and go-to-market strategies, complemented by sharp & insightful feedback from global investors and world-class mentors. The elite panel of industry mentors included Srikanth Talluri, Founder and CMD of 6D.Works, Rathnakar Samavedam, Investment Director & CEO Hyderabad Angels, Deb Mukherji, Chief Advisor-Anglian Omega Group – India, Siddharth Dangi, Founder & CEO at Mentogram, Singapore, Ravi Eswarapu, President of TIE, CXO turned Entrepreneur and Dr Dhiraj K Mahajan, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar along with Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor of SRM AP.

The Entrepreneurship Boot Camp 1.0 at SRM AP was a comprehensive 6-week cohort featuring 8 interactive sessions carefully curated for a dedicated pool of 60+ selected participants, who immersed themselves in an intensive boot camp guided by Prof. Sidharth Tripathy, a Harvard Alumnus and a Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at SRM AP.

Participants navigated the intricacies of ideation, business development, and strategic planning as the curriculum featured world-class case studies, practical implementation roadmaps, and real-time engagements with industry and business mentors of international calibre. From a competitive pool of 180 applicants, a rigorous selection process resulted in the acceptance of only 60 candidates. Further refinement led to the identification of 16 standout ventures. Ultimately, a select group of 10 ventures was chosen to receive a grant of Rs 50,000 each, thereby empowering them to incubate, accelerate, and build their ventures in Hatch Lab Research Centre, the incubator of SRM AP.

 

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp 1.0

INFINITUS-2024, a national level techno-cultural fest comes to a grand close. The 4-day fest highlighted SRM University-AP‘s commitment to fostering creativity, talent, inclusivity, and technological innovation where students showcased their talents, competed, learned, and thrived in an environment that celebrates diversity, unity, and boundless possibilities.

The national-level extravaganza was filled with an exhilarating journey of cultural activities including Western and classical music, dance, theatre performances, fashion walks, creative arts segments, quiz competitions, E-sports tournaments, photography contests, and interactive games such as “How I Met Your Murderer” and “Mouse Busters: Water Gun Battle that offered students a chance to immerse themselves in a whirlwind of inspiration. INFINITUS -2024 proved to be a magnificent learning platform, offering students opportunities to collaborate, network, and acquire 21st-century skills.

The event witnessed renowned Bollywood playback singer Neeti Mohan, Moksha Band, Haricharan, DJ Notorious, Telugu DJ, and stand-up comedian Mouli. The pro-shows attracted a crowd of over 6,000 attendees including students and participants from across the country.

Additionally, the event featured over 30+ food stalls, recreational games and activities, and a one of a kind automobile expo that showcased the exhibition of luxury cars on campus, further enriching the overall experience for attendees.

Director-Student Affairs, Mr Anil Kumar Nigam, in his address to the students, remarked, “Each competition, performance, and exhibit that was put up was a testament of hard work and passion,” as he congratulated the winners.

“In my eyes, each one of you is a winner today; the perseverance and commitment that you exhibited towards the making of INFINITUS is commendable. Keep the spark of innovation, creativity, and team spirit forever alive,” said Ms Revathi B, Associate Director – Student Affairs, as she addressed the gathering at the prize distribution ceremony.

 

Infinitus 2024

The Directorate of Sports at SRM University-AP organised its highly anticipated Annual Sports Day on March 16 and 17, 2024. This exciting event was conducted in the wake of its 3-day National Sports Fest -UDGAM ‘24. The event was graced by Mr Anup Singh Suryavanshi, Director of Campus Life & Maintenance, and Mr Anil Kumar Nigam, Director of Student Affairs, as its chief guest.

The Annual Sports Day saw an impressive participation of 669 athletes. These talented athletes engaged in an intense and spirited competition, showcasing their skills and abilities in both individual and team events. It was truly a spectacle to behold, with participants and spectators alike left in awe of the incredible displays of athleticism and sportsmanship on display. The event showcased a remarkable display of skill and persistence across various competitions in Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess, Kabaddi, Cricket, Volleyball and several others.

The annual sports fest culminated with a prize distribution ceremony, Assistant Director of Sports, Ms Sushmitha Kumari; Director of International Relations and Higher Studies, Ms Aditi Jain; Associate Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Mr Udayan Bakshi alongside sports officer, coaches, athletes and students bore witness to this momentous occasion.  As the curtains close on an exhilarating annual sports fest, we eagerly anticipate the continuation of a legacy focused on promoting sportsmanship, fostering healthy competition, and nurturing the talents of young athletes.

 

Annual Sports Day 2

Annual Sports Day

womens day 2024In commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Directorate of Student Affairs and the Directorate of HR collaborated to orchestrate a vibrant celebration on campus. The celebration witnessed Dr Shikha Jain, Director of Preservation and Community Design at DRONAH and Vice-President of ICOFORT, as its esteemed guest, alongside her were distinguished figures, including Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora; Associate Director of Faculty Affairs Prof. Sheela Singh; Professor of Liberal Arts, Dr Vandana Swami; and Associate Director of Student Affairs, Ms Revathi B.

Dr Sikha Jain, in her keynote address, reverberated with homage to the timeless strength inherent in women, drawing parallels with the archetype of Goddess Durga, symbolising courage, bravery, and compassion. She urged all attendees to embody these virtues and champion gender parity in every sphere of life.

Prof. Arora, in his speech, emphasised on the pivotal role women play in shaping our present and future, excelling across diverse domains from space exploration to entrepreneurship. Embracing this year’s theme, “Inspiring Inclusion,” he stated, “our dedication lies in cultivating a world where everyone appreciates and supports women’s contributions, ensuring they experience profound empowerment and a sense of belonging”.

The event also marked the launch of ‘Aditri-The Horizon of Hope,’ a transformative initiative aimed at empowering rural women, serving as a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering positive change. This pioneering endeavour was inaugurated by Mr Sidharth Shankar Tripathy, Director – Entrepreneurship and Innovation & Professor of Practice. The celebration reached its zenith with captivating performances by our talented staff, faculty and students, culminating in a joyous prize distribution for the Women’s Day competitions.

womens day HRD

womens day Student Affairs

womens day student affairs 1

Womens day Ramp walk

AESEE Conference day

The Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at SRM University-AP organised its 3-day International Conference on Advances in Environmental Sustainability, Energy and Earth Sciences ( AESEE 2024). The inaugural session on March 14, 2024, featured industry experts, with Prof. Prakasham Tata from the Center for Transformation of Waste Technology, USA, as the Keynote Speaker and Dr Prakash Chauhan, Director-National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, as the Chief Guest for the event.

He highlighted the attributes of the department and lauded the efforts of the faculty and students who contributed to the publication of 165 articles, of which 106 were featured in Q1 Journals. This momentous occasion was witnessed by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora; Advisor, Prof. V S Rao; Associate Professor and Head of the Department, Dr Rangabhasiyam Selvasembian; the organising secretaries, Dr Javed Ahmad Dar, Dr Pankaj Pathak and Dr Subashree Kothandaraman, along with participants from diverse parts of the globe, both online and offline.

Vice Chancellor-Prof. Manoj K Arora, in his address, emphasised that a congregation of such an intelligentsia is the need of the hour. He implored the audience to work at ground level and not confine themselves to mere talks and conferences, “go to the community and provide solutions, and solutions cannot be provided in the classrooms alone”, he stated.

Prakasham Tata, in his exuberant address, stated that the nation does not lack the intelligence or manpower to combat the alarming ecological crisis; It is the lack of trained personnel, pollution control boards, corruption and lack of effective cooperation between societal institutes that is causing a lax. Prof. Tata insisted that “universities like SRM AP are knowledge centres and have the tenacity and wisdom to combat the growing threats.” He issued a clarion call to all the youngsters and environmental enthusiasts to walk the talk.

Dr Prakash Chauhan, Director of the National Remote Sensing Centre, in his speech, cited Indians’ inherent way of living a sustainable lifestyle and went on to encourage the young participants in attendance to become true ‘karma yogis’ by innovating and finding new ways to promote and work towards environmental sustainability. He implored the youth to brainstorm innovative ideas that could gradually lead to monetisation opportunities while also benefitting the environment.

The inaugural day of the conference also marked the unveiling of the abstract book compiled by the department. Dr Javed Ahmad Dar, Assistant Professor and organising secretary of the conference, mentioned that the book consists of a total of 271 abstracts across 15 thematic areas. The event concluded with the Vice Chancellor and the Advisor honouring the guests with a token of appreciation.

 

ETSST 1

The Department of Chemistry at SRM University-AP has taken a significant initiative by organising an International Conference on “Emerging Trends in Supramolecular Science and Technology” (ETSST-2024) on March 07 and 08, 2024. This two-day conference brought together some of the most renowned and accomplished national and international intellectuals in the field of chemistry, who will share their insights and expertise on the latest advancements, emerging trends, and future prospects in the domain of supramolecular science and technology. The conference promises to be a great platform for researchers, scientists, academicians, and students to exchange ideas, network, and collaborate towards making breakthrough contributions in the field.

The conference marked the presence of academic stalwarts from institutes of national and international repute who expounded on the relevance of the conference and discoursed upon the various topics.

The event also featured the unveiling of the abstract book compiled by the department. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora; Registrar, Dr R Premkumar; the Associate Dean- Science, Prof. Jayaseelan Murugaiyan; Chairman and Convenor ETSST-2024, Prof. C Pulla Rao; HoD- Chemistry, Dr Pardha Saradhi Maram; Dr Seema Rani and Dr Balaji Babu, Assistant Professors, Department of Chemistry, SRM AP bore witness to this momentous occasion.

At its core, the essence of this conference lay in its audacious objective – to unravel the enigmatic world of supramolecular science, where chemistry transcends the boundaries of individual molecules. It is a domain where complexity breeds innovation, and practical applications pave the way for unprecedented advancements in engineering and technology.

As the curtains drew to a close on this grand spectacle, the echoes of inspiration and collaboration continued to reverberate within the hearts and minds of all who were part of this transformative experience. The bonds forged and the knowledge shared during ETSST-2024 will forever shape the trajectory of supramolecular science and technology.

 

ETSST

Mindfulness has emerged as a pivotal aspect in the domain of mental health, especially in the context of children and adolescents’ well-being. It refers to an inherent ability to be fully present in the moment, enabling an individual to gain an acute sense of awareness without any biases. Such a state of mindfulness empowers individuals to navigate the ups and downs of life with clarity and composure. Dr M Dhamodharan, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, has published a book chapter titled “Mindfulness for Child and Adolescent Well-Being: A Comprehensive Exploration of Strategies and Outcomes,” where he has comprehensively explored the intricacies of mindfulness and its impact on children and adolescents.

Here’s an abstract of the chapter published in the book, “Promoting Mindfulness and Well-Being with Indian Psychology.”

About the book chapter

The chapter examines the significant impact of mindfulness on children and adolescents. Mindfulness is the mental state defined by greater concentration, consciousness, and focus on the here and now, free from judgment. This chapter starts with the theoretical background of mindfulness and the current developments of mindfulness related to children’s and adolescents’ wellbeing. There are three main domains focused on mindfulness. Begin with emotional domains—that explains how mindfulness helps to regulate emotions. Secondly, cognitive domains explain how mindfulness practices help cognitive development and academic performance in educational settings. Thirdly, social and interpersonal domains explain the uses of mindfulness to improve social skills and interpersonal relationships with peer groups, family, and society. The chapter concludes with the role of parental and educational institutions in promoting mindfulness among children and adolescents to create a positive impact on their lives.

Dr Dhamodharan’s book chapter is targeted at Educators, parents, counsellors, and mental health specialists who stand to gain invaluable insights from the exploration of mindfulness within these pages.

Link to the book chapter

Link to the book

Electric Vehicles are in vogue today, thanks to the heightened environmental concerns, greater availability of models, increased cost competitiveness and improved vehicle ranges. To contribute to the growing field of electric vehicle technology, Assistant Professors, Dr Tarkeshwar Mahto, Dr Somesh Vinayak Tewari and Dr Ramanjaneya Reddy from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at SRM University-AP along with the research scholar, Ms K Mounika Nagabushanam, conducted a study and published a research paper titled “Development of High-Gain Switched-Capacitor Based Bi-Directional Converter for Electric Vehicle Applications.” The team’s research focuses on creating a bi-directional DC-DC converter that enables power flow from the battery to the motor and vice versa while maintaining necessary voltage gains and ensuring improved efficiency and low cost.

Abstract

High efficiency, high voltage transfer ratio (VTR), and low input ripple current are required in any bidirectional DC-DC converter (BDC) that plays a major role in interfacing batteries in applications like DC microgrids and electric vehicles (EVs). To meet these requirements, a switched capacitor-based BDC is proposed to interface the battery with a propulsion system via a DC Link. It has a simple circuit with only a set of switching operations, High VTR, and lesser ripple current on the low voltage (LV) side, which are advantages of the proposed High Gain Switched-Capacitor Bi-directional DC-DC Converter (SC-BDC), making it appropriate for use in EVs. The steady-state analysis, design consideration of passive components, loss and efficiency analysis are presented. Finally, the proposed High Gain SC-BDC is compared with a few of the existing BDCs in the literature. The feasibility of the converter was demonstrated by simulating a 200 W converter and validating results produced in a MATLAB environment.

Practical implementation of your research or the social implications associated with it.

The developed converter can be used in Electric Vehicle for integration of battery to traction motor.

Collaborations.

1. Majed A. Alotaibi, Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, 11421, Saudi Arabia.

2. Hasmat Malik, Department of Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University Technology Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru 81310, Malaysia.

3. Fausto Pedro García Márquez, Ingenium Research Group, Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.

As part of their future research plans the team plans of working on noise reduction methods that are brought on by regeneration action and to incorporate various control techniques to keep the DC link voltage of the propulsion system constant.

We wish the team all success in their future endevours!

Link to the article

 

UDGAM 2024

SRM University-AP, the proud organiser of the national-level sports event UDGAM-’24, graciously hosted a spectacular display of talent and sportsmanship on its grounds, wrapping up with a heartfelt closing ceremony on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The event, which commenced on February 29, was a testament to the spirit of unity and competitive excellence, with teams from across the nation showcasing their prowess in cricket, kabaddi, and volleyball.

The university extends its warmest congratulations to all the participating teams, especially highlighting the commendable performances of the Guntur Kits Engineering College cricket team, the kabaddi players from Amritasai Engineering College, and the volleyball teams from Saint Ann’s College and Mohan Babu University. Their dedication, skill, and sportsmanship have been the true highlights of this event.

SRM University-AP‘s grounds were alive with enthusiasm and energy, as athletes from various institutions came together to push their limits and celebrate the true spirit of sports. The cricket final was a particularly memorable moment, with the teams displaying exceptional talent and teamwork. The kabaddi and volleyball matches were equally riveting, filled with moments of sheer determination and exemplary skill.

The closing ceremony was a moment of unity and celebration, with Asian Games silver medalist Ms Jyothi Yerraji gracing the occasion to award the trophies to the deserving winners. The university’s registrar, Dr R Premkumar, led the event, emphasising the values of sportsmanship and camaraderie that Udgam- ’24 aimed to promote. The university also took the opportunity to express its gratitude towards all the participants, coaches, and supporting staff who contributed to the success of this grand sporting festivity.

In a humble acknowledgement of the collective effort, the university’s administration, including Dr Prem Kumar and Mr Anil Nigam, Director-Student Affairs, honoured the chief guest and all the participating athletes, appreciating their hard work, spirit, and the joy they brought to the SRM University-AP campus.

As we close this chapter of Udgam-24, SRM University-AP looks forward to fostering a continued legacy of sportsmanship, encouraging healthy competition, and nurturing the talents of young athletes from across the nation. We are inspired by the passion exhibited by all teams and are proud to have provided a platform for such a dynamic and inspirational exchange of athleticism and goodwill.