Rourkela: 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 May 16 to 18, 2026, the annual event provided a vibrant platform for research scholars to present and discuss their work across diverse disciplines.
Scholars from various fields participated in the event, presenting their research outcomes through poster and oral presentations. The event commenced on May 16, 2026, at the BB Auditorium, NIT Rourkela, in the presence of Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by 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.”
A. K. Turuk (Dean, Academics) 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, K. Umamaheshwar Rao (Director, NIT Rourkela) said, “This 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 “The Difference Between Course-Based Education and Research,” Chief Guest 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 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. R. C. Pradhan (Associate Dean of PG and Research) delivered the vote of thanks, noting that the first two days of RSW 2026 featured poster presentations by PhD students, while the third day included oral presentations by shortlisted candidates.
The RSW 2026 event successfully concluded on May 18 with a valedictory ceremony held at the BB Auditorium. The event included a prize distribution ceremony for winners and the awarding of certificates to volunteers. By creating an engaging platform for researchers to interact and share ideas, Research Scholars’ Week 2026 concluded with the recognition of outstanding research contributions while inspiring undergraduate and postgraduate students to explore careers in research and innovation.
