Events
Graduation Ceremony Held For Students Of SOA Faculty Of Legal Studies
Students of SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL) received their degrees at a graduation ceremony held at SOA University campus. The ceremony honoured graduates from BALLB (Hons), BBALLB (Hons), LLB (Hons), and LLM programmes. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda congratulated the students and urged them to uphold the reputation of their alma mater. He encouraged them to embrace AI and technology while using their legal knowledge to serve society and protect the underprivileged. The event was attended by senior university officials, faculty members, and the Dean of SNIL.
Graduation Ceremony Organised For IBCS And SHM Students
Students of IBCS and School of Hotel Management, SOA University, received their degrees at a special graduation ceremony. Graduates from various management, business and hospitality programmes were honoured. Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray presented the degrees and administered the oath. He wished the graduates success and urged them to serve as brand ambassadors of SOA. Deans, faculty members and senior university officials attended the ceremony.
Graduation Ceremony Organised For IMS And SUM Hospital Students
A graduation ceremony was held at SOA Deemed to be University for students of the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Campus-1. Degrees were awarded to students of MBBS, MD, MS, DM and MCh programmes from different batches. Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Prasenjit Mohanty presented the degrees and administered the oath to the graduates. He urged them to uphold SOA’s reputation and serve society with dedication. Dean Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra encouraged students to use AI in healthcare to improve patient care.
Graduation Ceremony Organised For SOA Dental Science Students
Students of the Institute of Dental Sciences (IDS), SOA University, received their degrees at a graduation ceremony. Degrees were awarded to BDS (2020-25) and MDS (2022-25) graduates by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda. He congratulated the students and urged them to uphold the reputation of SOA as its brand ambassadors. He highlighted SOA’s 15th and IDS’s 9th rank in the 2025 NIRF rankings. Dean Prof. (Dr.) Ruchi Bhuyan encouraged the graduates to use AI to improve dental treatment and patient care.
Graduation Day Held For SOA Pharmacy And Nursing Students
Students of SOA’s School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and SUM Nursing College received their degrees at a graduation ceremony. Graduates from various Pharmacy, Biotechnology and Nursing programmes were honoured. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda presented the degrees and congratulated the students. He urged them to serve humanity and use their professional knowledge for the benefit of society. Senior university officials, deans and faculty members attended the ceremony.
Graduation Ceremony Held For Agriculture Students At SOA
Students of SOA’s Institute of Agricultural Sciences received their degrees at a special graduation ceremony. Graduates from B.Sc. Agriculture, M.Sc. Agriculture, M.Sc. Horticulture and other programmes were honoured. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda administered the oath and congratulated the graduates. He urged them to uphold the reputation of SOA as its brand ambassadors. Dean Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout highlighted agriculture’s role in food security, climate change, rural development and technological innovation.
PAN SOA Mega Blood Donation Drive - 2026
Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), successfully organised the PAN SOA Mega Blood Donation Drive. The initiative witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, faculty, and volunteers, standing as a testament to SOA’s commitment to community service, healthcare, and compassion.
AI Cannot Replace Legal Reasoning: Orissa High Court Chief Justice at SOA Special Convocation
Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, Justice Harish Tandon, said AI and technology can improve court efficiency but cannot replace human compassion, independent legal reasoning, or judicial discretion. Speaking at SOA University's Special Convocation, he stressed that justice must be guided by fairness, constitutional morality, and accountability. He reminded law students that advocates have a duty to uphold the law with ethics and integrity. More than 300 Ph.D. degrees were awarded, and Justice Krishna Shripad Dixit received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
SOA’s Progress And Achievements Recalled On Foundation Day
Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University celebrated its 20th Foundation Day on Friday, recalling its journey from an engineering institute to a leading multidisciplinary university. Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Amit Banerjee and former Vice-Chancellors highlighted SOA's achievements in academics, research and healthcare while urging greater excellence. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda said the university has established 18 research centres, secured 107 patents and earned recognition from the UGC. Speakers also praised Founder President Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak for his visionary leadership in shaping SOA's growth over the past two decades.
International Yoga Day Observed At SOA
Students and faculty members of the SOA Deemed to be University here took part in various ‘yogasana’ and ‘pranayam’ postures at the university stadium here to mark the 12th International Day of Yoga on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, SOA’s Principal Advisor (Health Sciences) and eminent neurosurgeon, outlined the ill-effects of changing lifestyle of the youth while explaining how the practice of Yoga could impact and transform their physical, mental, social and spiritual health.
The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga was ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’.
Prof. Nachieketa K. Sharma, Director, International Relations and University Outreach Program, SOA, Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) and Dr. Kamal Lochan Mahanta, the university’s NSS Program Coordinator, also attended the program.
M. Akhil Chandra Rana, Yoga Teacher, assisted by a group of Yoga Instructors, helped the participants to go through various Yoga postures. Dr. Saroj Kumar Mohanty, Dr. Nitish Kumar Jena, Dr. Manas Kumar Patel, Dr. Bhimasen Bhol, Dr. Kanaklata Ojha, Ms. Padmaja Patel and other faculty members were also present.
International Nurses Day Observed at SOA
Nurses remain beside human beings from the moment of birth until the last breath of life, said Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi while addressing an event organized on the occasion of International Nurses Day at the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar today.
Speaking as the chief guest at the programme organized by the Nursing Department of IMS and SUM Hospital, Sarangi described nurses as “silent warriors” who continue to serve tirelessly during every crisis, including cyclones and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said nurses symbolize hope and compassion and that nursing is one of the noblest professions in society.
Referring to Florence Nightingale, whose birth anniversary is observed worldwide as International Nurses Day, Sarangi said that Nightingale continues to inspire generations of nursing students and professionals through her dedication and service to humanity.
Speaking on this year’s International Nurses Day theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives,” the MP stressed the need to empower nurses so they can effectively save lives and provide better healthcare services.
She urged nurses to continue serving society with dedication, empathy, and a spirit of care.
Sarangi also praised the patient care services of IMS and SUM Hospital, stating that since 2005 the institution has played a leading role not only in Bhubaneswar and Odisha but across India in the field of healthcare services.
On the occasion, SOA Founder President Prof. (Dr.) Manojranjan Nayak met MP Aparajita Sarangi in a courtesy meeting.
Among the distinguished guests at the programme was Lakshmipriya Mishra, Registrar of the Odisha Nurses and Midwives Registration Council, who said nurses act as a bridge between patient care and recovery.
She highlighted the hard work nurses perform even in adverse situations and emphasized the need for their empowerment.
Professor Prabhati Tripathy, Director of SUM Nursing College, said nurses continue to perform their duties sincerely despite physical exhaustion and mental stress, ensuring quality healthcare services for patients.
Professor Pushparaj Samantsinghar, Medical Superintendent of IMS and SUM Hospital, extended greetings on International Nurses Day and acknowledged the vital contribution of nurses to the hospital’s success.
He said nurses serve patients round the clock with kindness, empathy, and a smiling face.
During the programme, Nursing Superintendent Minati Mishra delivered the welcome address, while Deputy Nursing Superintendent Kalpalata Das proposed the vote of thanks.
Deputy Nursing Superintendent Swayamprabha Panda administered the Florence Nightingale pledge to nursing professionals present at the event. A cake-cutting ceremony was also organized in the presence of MP Aparajita Sarangi to mark the celebration of International Nurses Day.
Odisha Higher Education Leaders Discuss Global Excellence at Times Higher Education (THE) Odisha Regional Conclave.
Vice-Chancellors, administrators and academics from 37 different universities and institutions in Odisha exchanged ideas about ways to improve higher education so as to be noticed globally at a day-long conclave organised by the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) and hosted by the SOA Deemed to be University here on Friday.
Speakers who addressed the Times Higher Education (THE) Odisha Regional Conclave stressed on the need for building up a culture to excel in academics and research so as to shine on the global stage.
Prof. Amiya Kumar Rath, Vice-Chancellor of BPUT, said that the focus should be on quality and representatives of different universities had been invited to the event to know what was needed to be counted as a top-notch institution.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA and Prof. Bibhuti Bhushan Biswal, Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Technology and Research (OUTR) also addressed the conclave. Prof. Nanda said there had been a paradigm shift in university education because of technological advances and the challenges being encountered. Universities are not stand alone entities and should connect with the society, he said.
Prof. Biswal said that rankings like THE and QS were important to focus the institute outside the country.
Mr. Ritin Malhotra, General Manager and Senior Regional Director (Asia), THE, spoke on the global perspectives on evaluating excellence in academic and research parameters.
Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) proposed the vote of thanks.
The conclave had two different sessions and a panel discussion on international collaborations and exploring the potential partnership in the field of quality education, technology and research exchange with the world’s top universities and fraternity.
Prof. Satya Narayan Acharya, Vice-Chancellor of Odia University, Prof. Kumarbar Das, former Vice-Chancellor, Central University, Jharkhand and Prof. Bibhu Prasad Panigrahi, Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology, Sarang, also attended the event.
3-Day Techno-Cultural Fest ‘Chakravyuh’ And ‘Genesis’ Held At ITER
The sprawling campus of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), faculty of engineering of SOA Deemed to be University here, throbbed with music and the rhythm of dancing feet as the three-day techno-cultural fest-- ‘Chakravyuh’ and ‘Genesis’ held at the Engineering Campus. The 3-day event kicked-off on 3rd of April amalgamating innovation, creativity and cultural excellence.
The festival was formally inaugurated by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, who attended the event as the chief guest. Addressing students, he highlighted ITER’s remarkable achievement in being ranked 22nd among engineering institutions in India in the NIRF Rankings of 2025. He urged students to take pride in being part of the institution and strive to build a global identity for themselves and ITER.
The festival will feature a series of technical competitions and cultural performances by renowned artists. Adding a special touch to the inaugural event, students and slum children supported by them through the ‘Jaggo’ initiative presented captivating dance performances.
SOA Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Prashant Kumar Patra encouraged the students to equip themselves with evolving knowledge and skill to excel in a competitive world.
Speaking on the occasion, ITER Dean Prof. Pradeep Kumar Sahu emphasized the institute’s strong focus on research and technological advancement. Prof. Manas Kumar Mallick, Director of ITER, noted that the institution had grown into a leading educational hub over the past 25 years supported by active student clubs and initiatives such as NCC, NSS and the Atal Incubation Center-SOA Foundation.
Prof. Renu Sharma, Additional Dean (Student Affairs), delivered the welcome address followed by remarks by Chief Warden Prof. Ranjan Kumar Mallick. The vote of thanks was delivered by Additional Warden Prof. Debahuti Mishra.
In the 2nd day of the fest on 4th of April the bollywood singer Antara Mitra mesmerized the ITER students with her lively musical performance. Similarily on 5th of April on the last day of the fest music turned into energy. The students felt the rhythm with the unforgettable musical band of Bullet & Bohemians.
SOA Hosts HR Conclave Proxima-2026
‘SOA Proxima’, a three-day annual talent engagement event of the university concluded recently. In the event the Famous Motivational Speaker, Monk Gaur Gopal Das graced the occasion as the Chief guest where he seamlessly mingling with the teeming students, explained that colourful balloons didn’t soar into the sky because of their dazzling shades. They fly in the sky because of the gas inside them, he pointed out.
“Skill is critically important but unless you have the mindset you will not succeed”, Das said .
SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda welcomed and introduced the speaker. Mr. Ripti Ranjan Das, Director (Corporate Affairs and Industry Connect) also spoke.
In a program titled ‘Celebration of Excellence’ held subsequently, corporate leaders attending the event were presented with awards. Dr. Debahuti Mishra, Professor and Head of Department of Computer Science Engineering of SOA’s faculty of engineering and technology, proposed the vote of thanks. More than 150 HR professionals of top notch organisations joined the event and shared their experiences with the students. As the famous Singer Arjun kanongo performed at the 2nd day of the event the students enjoyed a lot.
AI Has The Potential To Transform Modern Agriculture: Experts
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform modern agriculture but its success depended strongly on robust data foundations, experts said at a two-day international symposium organised at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here which concluded on Wednesday.
Various data sources are required for AI-driven agricultural systems, such as weather and climate records, remote sensing data, soil properties, farm observations and sensor-based monitoring systems, they said.
The symposium on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Shaping Agriculture and Allied Sectors for Sustainable Food Security’ was jointly organized by SOA’s Centre for Climate Smart Agriculture (CCSA), SOA’s faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the AIC-SOA Foundation.
The event, which was attended by 150 participants including from IIT Bhubaneswar, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management, Bhubaneswar, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack and Indian Horticultural Research Institute, Bengaluru, focused on AI-driven innovations such as precision farming, crop and soil health monitoring, pest and disease forecasting, smart irrigation, yield prediction and digital advisory services.
Prof. Chittaranjan Ray, Director of the Nebraska Water Center, USA, Mr. Robert B. Daugherty of Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Prof. Binayak P. Mohanty, Regents Professor and COALS Chair, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, Texas A and M University, USA and Dr. Jude Cobbing, Senior Program Manager, University of Nebraska were among the distinguished resource persons at the symposium.
Prof. Ray discussed the inter-linkage between water resources, food security and emerging global challenges, particularly in the face of rapid population growth and shifting food demand. He pointed out that Africa’s demographic contribution to the global population was expected to rise significantly influencing future food systems, dietary patterns and regional crop production strategies.
“The deliberations by the acclaimed international and Indian experts will certainly improve the current level of understanding on smart farming for efficient use of critical resources such as water, nutrients and energy through real-time data-driven decision support systems particularly under the climate variability scenario,” Prof. Rabindra Kumar Panda, Director of CCSA, said.
This would be of enormous value, particularly for the farmers of Odisha who have little access to the modern technological interventions to enhance productivity and production, he said.
Prof. Mohanty, who spoke on the subject ‘Climate Smart Decision Making in Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities using AI’, discussed the growing challenges posed by climate variability and extreme weather events which significantly affected crop productivity and water resources. He highlighted how AI and data-driven approaches could integrate information from climate data, soil moisture, crop growth models and remote sensing observations to support climate-smart agricultural decision making.
Dr. Cobbing, who focused on demography, agricultural challenges and water scarcity in Africa, India and the USA, said South Asia had one of the largest irrigated agricultural areas playing a crucial role in regional food security. He compared AI-enabled development and energy status across the three continents emphasizing the differences in technological and infrastructural capacity.
He said it was time to move beyond colonial stereotypes to address agricultural and water challenges through reconciliation, knowledge sharing and responsible AI use.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, who presided over the inaugural session on Tuesday, described the organization of the symposium on use of AI for the benefit of farmers as timely and contemporary under the present context. He said that AI-driven decision support system could be successfully used to address issues faced by the farmers.
The other speakers included Dr. Alakananda Mitra, Research Assistant Professor, Nebraska Water Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, Dr. S.K.Routray, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar and Prof. Basudev Behera, Professor and Head of Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SOA.
The key organizers of the symposium, besides Prof. Panda, included Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Co-Chairman, and Dr. Anshuman Jena and Dr. Subhaprada Dash, both Associate Professors of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences who were the Convenors of the event.
Enter The Field Of Law To Ensure Prevalence Of Justice At All Cost: Justice Raman Tells Students
Students of law intending to embrace the legal profession should enter the field with the motto that justice must prevail at all cost, Mr. Justice Murahari Sri Raman, Judge of the High Court of Orissa, said on Saturday.
“A lawyer has to become part of the justice delivery system and be fearless and independent in thought as the people repose immense faith in the judiciary”, Justice Raman said while addressing students of the SOA Deemed to be University here.
Addressing the gathering of students and teachers drawn from SOA’s faculty of legal studies and agricultural sciences as part of the SOA Lecture Series, he described the legal profession as ‘very interesting and challenging’.
“You have to be truthful, have to stick to the relevant facts and exercise your rational thought while being part of the service oriented noble profession”, he said.
Once a student entered the legal profession, he has to be very serious and continuously delve into the provisions of law as there is no substitute to relentless study, Justice Raman said adding everyone needed some understanding of law.
“A scholar of law continues to be a student of the subject all his life till the very end”, he said.
Justice Raman said lawyers arguing cases in the court should ensure that their pleadings were clear and unambiguous so that they could be taken into account. “It is because the law cannot be discussed in a vacuum and all basic features of law should be included during the pleading”, he pointed out.
Referring to the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in different spheres including the legal profession, the judge advised the students to use AI only for assistance. “You have to apply your mind, otherwise it can lead to catastrophic results”, he warned.
Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Pro-Vice Chancellor of SOA, presided over the event while Prof. Madhusudan Das, Senior Professor at the SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL), SOA’s faculty of legal studies, introduced the speaker. Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, the university’s Dean (Students’ Welfare), conducted the proceedings.
Children Battling Malignancy Spread Cheer On World Cancer Day
Tiny tots sporting beatific smiles walked on the ramp spreading cheer in a hall full of cancer patients and survivors to mark the World Cancer Day at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here on Tuesday.
All the children were cancer patients as well battling leukemia but escorted by medical students they glowed on the stage as the audience cheered.
“You are the real superstars, fighters,” extolled Varsha Priyadarshini, eminent Ollywood star and social worker, who was the chief guest on the occasion.
The children also presented dance performances including an Odissi recital.
“I am fortunate that I could meet you, I am touched by your innocent smile,” she said adding the fashion show by the children taught much about life.
The program, an annual event, was organised by the hospital’s Department of Oncosciences with the theme for this year being ‘United by Unique’. It was attended by more than 800 cancer patients either undergoing treatment or those who had defeated the disease after being treated in the hospital run by Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA).
Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, described the patients battling the disease as icons while pointing out that the hospital was providing complete cancer care from diagnosis to treatment with the departments of Onco-Surgery, Onco-Medicine and Hematology extending the needed facilities.
Prof. (Dr.) Soumya Ranjan Das, acting Dean of the teaching hospital, said around 15 to 20 lakh people in India get affected by cancer every year as it is a huge problem. “Prevention, early detection, efficient treatment and rehabilitation are the key to battle the disease,” he said adding people should avoid cancer causing food.
Prof. (Dr.) Neeta Mohanty, Professor in the Institute of Dental Sciences (IDS), SOA’s faculty of dental sciences, described the program as a ‘celebration of life’ while mentioning about availability of new diagnostic techniques which would help in battling cancer.
Pointing out that the oral cavity was the most accessible part of the human body, she said many people suffer from oral cancer because of their habits of chewing pan and gutka.
The pre-cancer signs are to be diagnosed early, she said adding 95 per cent of cancer was caused by habits and the environment.
Dr. Soumya Surath Panda, head of the department of Onco Medicine, Anshuman Nayak, eminent Ollywood playback singer and Dr. Saroj Prasad Panda, head of the Pediatric Oncology department also addressed the gathering.
Dr. Sunil Agrawal, head of the department of Onco Surgery, said a person’s ‘belief system’ played a big role in the battle against cancer. “It enabled us to come out with the Covid vaccine,” he said adding a person fighting the disease should never ask the question as to why he got the disease when others were healthy.
He gave the example of athlete Deepa Malik, who despite being afflicted with cancer, went on to win the silver medal in the Paralympics in the shot put event in 2016.
77th Republic Day Celebrated At SOA University
A spectacular marchpast by students and mesmerizing enactment of plays focussing on social issues marked the 77th Republic Day celebration at the Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on Monday.
The Chancellor of SOA, Prof. (Dr.) Amit Banerjee unfurled the national flag and took the salute in the ceremonial parade in which NCC cadets, NSS volunteers and students of different institutes of the university took part.
Addressing the students, faculty members, Deans, Directors and senior officials, Prof. (Dr.) Banerjee said the Republic Day was an occasion to celebrate the constitution and take a pledge for all round development of the nation.
SOA, he said, was playing an important role in this process.
Pointing out that SOA had done well to be ranked high in the list prepared by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2025, Prof. (Dr.) Banerjee said all must strive to improve SOA's ranking further while continuing to serve the society.
SOA had created a benchmark for itself in healthcare and was doing well in research and innovation, he said adding "our collective goal should be to make India developed".
The Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Deans of different institutions, Directors and senior officials were present.
Students of different institutions presented a cultural pageant focussing on thought provoking issues which posed questions before the society.
Mr. Arman Samal, Senior Under Officer, NCC, and Mr. Soumyajit Behera, Junior Under Officer, NCC commanded the parade.
The Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS) was adjudged first in the ceremonial parade while Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (IVSAH) and NSS volunteers finished second and third respectively.
Students of the SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL) won the first prize for their presentation in the cultural program while students of SUM Nursing College were placed second.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nanda unfurled the tricolour at a separate function held in the university office.
Researchers From South East Asian Countries Attend Seminar On Latest Developments In Transdermal Care At SOA
Researchers, clinicians and industry experts from several South East Asian countries came together to discuss cutting-edge developments in smart biomaterials, nanotechnology and digital sensing for transdermal therapeutics and advanced wound management at a day-long seminar held at the SOA Deemed to be University here on Wednesday.
The Indo-ASEAN International Seminar (IAIS-2026), which focused on the theme ‘Engineering the Next Generation of Transdermal Care’, was organised by the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS), SOA’s faculty of pharmaceutical sciences.
The discussion centered on smart transdermal systems which have marked a major advancement in modern healthcare. “Today, we are moving beyond traditional wound dressing and simple drug delivery methods toward intelligent, responsive and multifunctional biomaterials,” Prof. A. Bose, Convenor of the event, said.
These advanced systems support faster wound healing, better infection control, reduced inflammation and improved pain management by combining treatment with real-time sensing and diagnosis, he said.
Prof. Bose said this integration had given rise to a new class of theranostic transdermal systems. “A key focus of this seminar is the development of intelligent biomaterials designed to respond to changes in the body and deliver drugs in a controlled and timely manner improving treatment accuracy, safety and patient comfort,” he said.
Researchers and technocrats from several ASEAN countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei attended the seminar which was presided over by SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda.
Prof. Santanu Dhara, Professor, School of Medical Science and Technology, IIT Kharagpur, and Dr. Orawan Suwantong, Associate Professor, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand addressed two scientific sessions. While Prof. Dhara spoke on the topic ‘Ethically sources biomaterials through innovative processing for Wound Management’, Dr. Suwantong delivered a lecture on ‘Utilization of biopolymer-based wound dressings incorporated with natural product extracts for diverse wound management.’
Prof. Dhara said medical research and pharmacy were transdisciplinary areas where doctors, engineers and medical scientists have to work together for the good of mankind.
He said scientists came to know about the stem cells only in 1991 while stem cell therapy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in USA in 2024. India followed suit in 2025, he said adding lots of ideas were getting amalgamated today for better healthcare delivery.
The different sessions were addressed by Dr. Rajan Rajabalaya, Assistant Professor, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Dr. Anju R. Babu, Assistant Professor, NIT Rourkela, Dr. Rehan Khan, Scientist-E, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali and Dr. Siti Efliza Binti Ashari, Associate Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Prof. Debajyoti Das, Dean, SPS, welcomed the speakers and participants while Prof. Anup Samantaray, Pro-Vice Chancellor, SOA, delivered the key note address in the valedictory session. It also featured review remarks by Prof. B.B. Subudhi, Head of Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, SPS while Prof. Goutam Rath, Head of Department, Pharmaceutics, SPS, presented the epilogue.
The scientific sessions were chaired by Dr. Subrata Mallick, Professor, Prof. Snigdha Pattnaik, Head of Department, Industrial Pharmacy, Prof. Pratap Kumar Sahu, Head of Department, Pharmacology, and Prof. P. Sudhir Kumar, Head of Department, Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Prof. Laxmidhar Maharana, Professor, coordinated the seminar.
The successful conduct of the seminar reinforced SOA’s commitment to promoting international academic collaboration and advancing research in transdermal drug delivery and advanced pharmaceutical sciences.
First SOA Flower Festival Inaugurated
Amidst blooming flowers and a sea of colours, the first SOA Flower Festival was inaugurated at the SOA Deemed University here on Monday.
The two-day festival, organised by the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, the university's faculty of agriculture, to coincide with the International Flower Day on January 19, was inaugurated by Ms. Saswati Das, Vice-President of SOA.
The festival's objective was to create awareness among the people about floriculture and encourage farmers, flower traders, students and housewives to take to flower cultivation, Ms. Das said.
Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, who attended the inaugural program as guest of honour, said the festival would help connoisseurs of flower learn how to grow flowers scientifically.
Floriculturist, entrepreneurs, nurseries and individuals have participated in the flower exhibition and competitions.
The festival has 18 different stalls for live exhibits open to members of public and competitions in 90 different categories.
The second day of the festival will feature a panel discussion on the theme 'Entrepreneurship in Floriculture '.
The discussion will include scientific methods of flower cultivation, the incentives being offered by the government for flower cultivation and support available from banks for such endeavours, Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean of (IAS) said.
The inaugural program was also attended, among others, by Prof. Manjula Das, Controller of Examination, SOA, Prof. Susanta Kumar Das, Dean, Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Prof. Ruchi Bhuyan, Dean, Institute of Dental Sciences and Prof. Sashikala Beura, Head of Department of Floriculture and Land Scaping at IAS.