AHMEDABAD: Ahmedabad University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to deepen academic and research interaction.

The partnership is built around research to advance the development and application of technology, the building of deep tech capabilities, and collaborative conferences and workshops. These activities will include development of programmes for building of capabilities in certain selected areas for SAC, engagement in the doctoral programmes and bringing skills of scientists in the classrooms at Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad University will also work on identified academic and research problems of SAC or assigned projects either independently or jointly.

Ahmedabad University is a private, non-profit research university offering students a liberal arts education focused on interdisciplinary learning and research thinking, With the core objective of transforming higher education in India, the University promotes independent mindedness and diversity across all dimensions of its activity and helps students to mature into critical thinkers who are analytically equipped, practically oriented, and contextually-aware global citizens.

SAC is involved in design and development of space-borne instruments for ISRO missions and development and operationalisation of applications of space technology for national development. The applications cover communication, broadcasting, navigation, disaster monitoring, meteorology, oceanography, environment monitoring and natural resources survey.

Announcing the MoU, Professor Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor of Ahmedabad University, said that “SAC will find his institution to be a very engaged and hungry partner when it comes to working on research problems of the society and to bringing them into the classroom.”
Stating that Ahmedabad University will be very inclined to be involved in the projects of SAC, Professor Chandra added that this partnership will also help in meeting the challenges posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nilesh Desai, Director of SAC, appreciated the fact that Ahmedabad University is encouraging project-based learning. “SAC is famous for applied research, so our collaboration will go a big way,” said Dr Desai. “We would like our scientists to learn and collaborate with Ahmedabad University given its expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.”

Dr. Sanjay Chaudhury, Interim Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, said that, in the past, Ahmedabad University has benefited from very active support of SAC for conferences, workshops, research proposals as well as interactions among faculty and scientists. He said, “The MoU will enable faculty members to address focused research challenges, students will be able to undertake internships as well as projects under the guidance of scientists and faculty, scientists will benefit from courses as well as further study, and there will be joint workshops and conferences on specific as well as impactful areas.”

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