1. CONTEXT
The world has realized that the best innovations come from the age group of 18-22. This is the best age group to introduce students to a formal research culture so that their ideas get channelized and they develop a passion for research and innovation. The aim of starting this Undergraduate Research Forum (URF) is to provide a formal and structured platform for the motivated and merited undergraduate students to get into a research mode right during their UG studies. This will motivate these students to take up higher studies in high ranked universities within India abroad which in turn will pave way for newer research based career opportunities.
2. PRESENT SCENARIO
Highly meritorious and research oriented students have a deep interest to carry out a focused work towards publishing quality research papers, developing prototypes, working on new algorithms, carrying out patentable work etc. To facilitate the research active UG students to get into the research right during their UG studies, RNSIT has taken the unique initiative of starting the “Undergraduate Research Forum” at the institute level. This is a formal body with a well defined charter is an effective platform to promote research at the undergraduate level. This is a very novel concept not initiated by most universities in India
3. SCENARIO WORLDWIDE
A majority of the universities abroad have set up this formal body to administer research during the UG studies. The following are a few examples of the URF:
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM (URF) PROJECTS
| Sl.No. | Faculty Name | Depart | Title of the Proposal/Project | Project Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Dr. Bharath V(MESCH) | Mech | Studies on Microstructural Investigation on Developing A12219-Ti-6A1-4V Diffusion Bonded Joints | Rs. 25,000 |
| 02 | Dr. Ram Satish | CSE(AI&ML) | I-Sensei.ai (Intelligent Mentor) | Rs. 8500 |
| 03 | Dr. Kiran P | CSE | Eagle Eye (Wild Life detection) | Rs. 29,000 |
| 04 | Dr. Ibrar Jahan M A | ECE | Design and Development of a Device to Monitor Diabetic Foot Pressure | Rs. 22,550 |
| 05 | Dr. Sreevidya R C | CSE(DS) | Design of an Agricultural Monitoring and Decision Support System | Rs. 18,250 |
| 06 | Dr. A Srinivas | CSE(DS) | Development of a Virtual Reality System to Simulate Base Station handoff in Mobile Networks | Rs. 9700 |
| 07 | Ms. Souma S | EEE | Design and Development of a Hybrid Quadruped Robotic Dog | Rs. 25,000 |
| 08 | Dr. Sudhamani M J | CSE | Emergency Vehicle Preemption | Rs. 17,850 |
| 09 | Dr. Abhijith and Prof.Mahadeva | Civil | Experimental Studies on Recycled Rubber and Plastic | Rs. 23,000 |
| 10 | Dr. Leena Chandrashekar | ECE | Portable 2D Printer - An Assistive Technology for People with writing Disabilities | Rs. 9240 |
| 11 | Dr. Bhagyashree Ambore | ISE | Green Shield Harvest - IOT Automation and Machine Learning for Sustainable Micro Irrigation, Hydroponic and Precision Farming | Rs. 24,998 |
| 12 | Dr. Vipula Singh and Dr.Leena Chandrashekar | ECE | Low Cost Indigenous Plastic Waste Collector | Rs. 17,120 |
| 13 | Dr. Sudhamani M J | CSE | Autonomous Underwater Vehicle | Rs. 24,688 |
| 14 | Dr. Sampada K S | CSE | Rakshak- Fire Fighting Robot | Rs. 34,000 |
| 15 | Dr. Ramesh Babu H S | CSE(AI & ML) | Vision - The Third Eye | Rs. 15,500 |
4. Expected Outcomes
- Inculcate research culture in students right at the UG level
- Promote Inter-Disciplinary Projects
- Create a platform for students from across branches and years of study to work together in Teams with close mentoring from the faculty
- Promote system thinking in students
- Enable students to improve their problem-solving skills
- Promote project-based learning in students
- Enable students to be more confident, with high self esteem
- To create In-House Internship Opportunities for students
- Define new research-based career avenues for students
- Enable students to participate in project competitions/Hackathons within India and Abroad
- Promote students to take up higher studies in top Universities within India and Abroad
- Create a high branding for the university
- A ready pool of skilled students available for faculty to take up projects (both externally funded and in-house) of various kinds. The senior students will be very valuable mentors for younger batches.
- The Alumni of this forum will associate with the institute and will be a big asset for the institution. It creates a sense of Belongingness for the institution.
- Industries/companies will be highly interested in offering projects to the lab when expertise is developed in a few chosen areas.
- At one point, industries will be ready to fund the activities of the lab.
