Bhubaneswar: ‘Galaxy of Stars’, a dream project of Late Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, the founder of SAI International, was inaugurated by Odisha Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal here on Wednesday. Galaxy of Stars is a promising endeavour that is introduced to foster scientific temperament, curiosity, and critical thinking in the children of SAI International.
Galaxy of Stars is a centre for learning and research on space, planets, constellations and the universe. Various educational activities to cultivate scientific temper and creativity among the students will be undertaken at the centre. A statue of Late Dr Sahoo has been placed within the galaxy of stars to remind the students of his vision and endeavour to promote science and technology among them.
Addressing the gathering, Prof Lal said, “SAI is an institution of awakening, serenity and simplicity. Students should continue to innovate irrespective of all adversities.” He stressed on ‘unity in diversity’, is one of the prominent learnings at school that shapes children from their early years.
“We will continue in this journey of making a Better India through Education started by our Founder Chairman, Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, with even more passion and vigour as we have many more milestones to achieve,” said Dr Silpi Sahoo, Chairperson, SAI International School. The event also featured the first ‘Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo Memorial Lecture’, by Dr Prasant Mohapatra, Vice-Chancellor, University of California, Davis.
Students and parents gathered at the Indraprastha Auditorium of SAI International School to witness the launching ceremony. Being the birth anniversary of Late Dr Sahoo, the ‘Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo Memorial Lecture’ will be held every year on this day.
Dr Mohapatra, who is also on the advisory board of SAI International Education Group. An eminent academician, Dr Mohapatra received his doctoral degree from Penn State University in 1993, an Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award in 2008 and was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India.
Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo Memorial Lecture will be conducted annually to discuss on the topics of Education, a genre Late Dr. Sahoo was most emotional and dedicated to. These lectures will provide a forum for dynamic academic debates and the exchange of innovative global ideas in the field of education. It is an imperative step towards spreading awareness on topics of innovation and discovery in the field of education. The topic for the first lecture is “Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Future of Education’.
Dr Mohapatra emphasized on how the future could be an amalgamation of human intelligence with artificial intelligence. He advised the students and other curators of education to focus more on the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, and less on the applications offered by it. He said that is is extremely relevant for students to understand the shortcomings of AI, and know the difference between the good AI & bad AI.
“Artificial Intelligence is the practice that has the capability of transforming old methods of teaching,” he stated.
Nilakantha Panigrahi, Director Academics & Senior Principal, Prakash Sahoo, Principal Secondary, Rashmi Pandey, Principal Primary from SAI International School and Amitabh Agnihotri, Head-Master, SAI International Residential School were also present on occasion. At the end of the event, the alumni paid tribute to the late Founder Chairman and shared their fondest memories with Dr Sahoo.
