Research Scholar’s Week 2026 Concludes at NIT Rourkela, Showcasing Research Contributions of 128 Scholars
By Sahoo Alisha
Rourkela, May 20:The 10th edition of the three-day Research Scholars’ Week (RSW) 2026 concluded at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela, celebrating academic excellence and innovative research contributions by PhD scholars. Held from 16th to 18th May 2026, the annual event provided a vibrant platform for research scholars to present and discuss their research work across diverse disciplines. Scholars from diverse disciplines participated in the event, presenting their research outcomes through poster and oral presentations. The event commenced on 16.05.2026 at BB Auditorium-NITR in the presence of Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar (Director of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar).
The inaugural session started with a welcome address by Prof. Pradip Chowdhury (Professor in Charge, RSW-2026), who said, “The 10th edition of RSW has brought together over 128 research scholars from 20 departments representing five broad research clusters: Basic Sciences, Chemical and Biological Sciences, Mechanical Sciences, Circuitry, and Humanities and Management. Nearly 50 judges will evaluate the posters and oral presentations of the participating PhD scholars. With this event, we aspire to promote self-reliance through innovation and encourage interdisciplinary exchange of ideas across diverse fields.”
Prof. A. K. Turuk (Dean, Academic) extended congratulations to the vibrant research community. He said, “RSW aims to provide an important platform for researchers to present their work, engage in academic discussions, and highlight emerging areas of scientific inquiry. Our vision is to nurture young researchers and strengthen global academic standing.”
Conveying best wishes to the research scholars, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao (Director, NIT Rourkela) said, “It is an occasion to recognise the commitment and academic contributions of our research scholars, whose pursuit of knowledge continues to inspire innovation and societal progress. Research demands curiosity, originality, and the courage to explore meaningful solutions beyond conventional boundaries. ‘Publish To Flourish’ because research attains its true value only when its findings are shared with the academic community and society, thereby enhancing the impact and relevance of scholarly work.”
Presenting a talk on ‘Difference Between Course-Based Education and Research’, Chief Guest Prof. Shreepad Karmalkar said, “Research promotes logical thinking and begins with asking new and relevant questions to explore emerging areas. It involves identifying problems, finding solutions, publishing findings, communicating ideas effectively, and following a sound scientific methodology over a long period of focused work. The key differences between course-based and research-based learning lie in their evaluation criteria, procedures, and objectives. In course-based education, all students follow a common curriculum, prescribed textbooks, and uniform evaluation, aimed at providing general and subject knowledge. In contrast, research-based learning involves unique problems for each student, self-driven identification of topics, extensive study of books and research papers in specialised areas, and advanced degrees such as a PhD that prepare individuals to teach and guide others professionally.”
A commemorative souvenir was released to mark the occasion. Prof. R. C. Pradhan (Associate Dean of PG and Research) presented the vote of thanks, saying that the first two days of RSW 2026 featured poster presentations by PhD students, and on the third day, oral presentations from the shortlisted candidates followed.
The RSW event for the year 2026 successfully concluded on 18th May with a valedictory ceremony held at the BB Auditorium. The event included a prize distribution ceremony for the winners and the awarding of certificates to the volunteers. By creating an engaging platform for researchers to interact and share ideas, Research Scholar’s Week 2026 concluded with the recognition of outstanding research contributions while inspiring undergraduate and postgraduate students to explore careers in research and innovation.
