Academic Year 2024/25 Tag

As part of its ongoing extension and community outreach initiatives, the staff and students of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), Anantapur Campus conducted a one-month skills enhancement programme for visually challenged students residing at the “Meenakshamma Inclusive Development Centre” a privately-run hostel in Anantapur.

This initiative was catalysed by Ms. Rama Devi, a visually-challenged alumna and a long-time resident of the Sri Sathya Sai Women’s Hostel, who brought to light the pressing need for skill development among this group. The Meenakshamma Inclusive Development Centre, managed by Smt. & Sri Venkata Narayana, a devout couple, provides accommodation and support to approximately 40 underprivileged girls—most of whom are fully visually challenged and currently pursuing intermediate or undergraduate studies.

The objectives were

• to provide basic computer literacy using assistive technology (talkback-supported systems)
• to develop spoken English and communication skills
• to create awareness among SSSIHL volunteers of the challenges faced by visually impaired students and to foster a spirit of selfless service

Planning and Preparation

A preliminary visit by the Director and a faculty team in April 2025 confirmed the feasibility and need for such a programme. Following this, a call for volunteers was made. Seventeen faculty members and research scholars came forward to offer daily training sessions, each lasting 90–120 minutes over four weeks. The programme was coordinated by Ms. K. Hemalatha, Asst. Director, Physical Education, with four rotating teams conducting sessions from 1st May to 30th May 2025.

Implementation

The programme was divided into two core modules:

• Computer Basics (using talkback): turning on a PC, navigating applications, typing in MS Word, creating resumes, and making PowerPoint presentations.
• Conversational English: confidence-building exercises, basic grammar and sentence structures, interactive speaking tasks.

The students were grouped into two batches that alternated between modules every three days to ensure focused attention and learning continuity.

Outcomes

• Students successfully gained the ability to operate a talkback-enabled desktop system, create documents and presentations.
• They showed marked improvement in spoken English; one student confidently delivered a vote of thanks in English on the concluding day.
• The programme significantly impacted both beneficiaries and volunteers.
• The experience deepened the volunteers’ appreciation for their own privileges and strengthened their resolve to serve society.

Future Directions

The visually challenged students and the management at the Centre have requested continued support. The campus aims to design a sustainable follow-up training module as part of its regular outreach activities, with the continued grace and inspiration of our Founder Chancellor Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Identifying the Issue

• Current titanium implants, though biocompatible, require surface treatments to improve early-stage bone integration and also to prevent bacterial adhesion causing conditions like peri-implantitis.
• High cost and complexity of typical implant surface treatments limit its accessibility, especially in lower economic settings, warranting the need for simpler and cost-effective methods

Objective of the Research

• Develop a low-cost surface treatment to improve implant to bone integration and minimize bacterial colonisation.
• Create a technique that’s feasible in clinical settings without complex equipment.

Who should read this?

• Dental and orthopaedic implant manufacturers
• Biomedical engineers
• Dental surgeons and clinicians
• Medical device R&D professionals

Solution

A dual alkali (NaOH and NH₄OH) etching was performed at room temperature on titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). This treatment technique improved surface roughness and chemistry and the etched samples showed better osseointegration and bacterial resistance.

Key Features and Benefits

• Etching performed at room temperature, without the need for any special equipment
• Compatible with existing implant materials (Grade 5 titanium)
• Cost-effective, scalable, and clinically feasible
• Improved bone integration and promotes healing
• Minimises bacterial colonization

Impact

• 7× reduction in bacterial adhesion vs. as received grade 5 titanium
• Good hydroxyapatite formation within 1 week of soaking in SBF that proves ability for early-stage bone formation
• In-vivo studies show improved early osseointegration in 1 and 4 weeks of implantation
• Technique suitable for adoption in a clinical setting

Team

1. Sushmita Chettri (first author) (SSSIHL)
2. Deepa Seetharaman (Corresponding author) (SSSIHL)
3. Wei Zhu (Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences)
4. Huasi Zhou (Uppsala University, Sweden)
5. Håkan Engqvist (Uppsala University, Sweden)
6. Wei Xia (Uppsala University, Sweden)

Title of paper: “Dual alkali etching for osseointegration and reduced bacterial adhesion: a feasible alternative to SLA“

Read Paper Here: https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ma01223b

On 28 May 2025, the Sri Sathya Sai Research and Innovation Forum (SSSRIF) welcomed its inaugural start-up, Saimeethya Foods Pvt Ltd, founded by SSSIHL alumna Dr Sai Dharshini S (Food & Nutrition, Anantapur campus)

What they do:

Saimeethya Foods Pvt Ltd. offers millet-based, ready-to-eat products that transform under-utilised major and minor millets into convenient, daily foods. The formulations are validated for physicochemical quality, nutrition, and shelf stability by the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, SSSIHL.

The impact:

Despite their nutritional value, millets remain underused in Indian diets. Saimeethya changes that—offering ready-to-eat options that are practical, tasty, and aligned with our Founder Chancellor’s emphasis on healthful, indigenous foods.

The moment:

The incubation agreement was formally signed and exchanged by Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL and Chairman, SSSRIF, and Dr. Sai Dharshini, Founder of Saimeethya Foods Pvt. Ltd., in the divine presence of our revered Founder Chancellor on 28 May 2025 at Prasanthi Nilayam

Also present were Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah (President, SSSIHL-IIC), Mr. Pavan Kumar T. L. (CEO, SSSRIF), Mr. N. L. S. Murthy, members of the IIC team, and several faculty mentors who helped shape the venture.

This milestone reflects our vision: to incubate ventures that nourish lives, respect natural resources, and carry Sai values into the marketplace.

Welcome, Saimeethya Foods. Let the grains—and the good—go far.

The Faculty Development Program (FDP) on Advances in Mathematical Modeling Techniques, AI/ML and Bioinformatics was organized online by the Centre for Excellence in Mathematical Biology (CEMB), SSSIHL, in collaboration with ISMMACS, from April 12–19, 2025, as part of the Sri Sathya Sai Centenary Celebrations. It brought together 72 participants—faculty, researchers, and students—from across India.

Over eight days, expert speakers from premier institutions worldwide delivered sessions covering key domains such as optimal control, parameter estimation, epidemiological modeling, delay differential equations (DDEs), stochastic modeling, bioinformatics, and scientific machine learning. The program balanced theory with hands-on training, using tools like Python, MATLAB, and JAMOVI to simulate real-world scenarios in population dynamics, disease spread, cancer research, and more.

Highlights included sessions on machine learning techniques like Extreme Learning Machines, cryptographic applications of graph theory, and hybrid modeling approaches combining AI and mechanistic models. Real-life case studies, such as modeling the effects of insecticides on crops or hereditary cancer diagnostics through bioinformatics, added practical value.

Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, praising the program’s interdisciplinary nature, clarity of instruction, technical depth, and smooth organization. Many appreciated the accessibility of complex topics and the provision of session recordings for continued learning. The FDP successfully enriched participants’ knowledge base and provided a robust platform for future research and collaboration in mathematical biology and computational modeling.

View detailed report:

The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) successfully organized a one-day hands-on workshop titled “Attracting Investments for Research and Innovation” on 25 April 2025 at the Multimedia Learning Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus.

The workshop comprised three interactive sessions and saw participation from over 50 attendees, including faculty members, research scholars, and students from all four campuses of SSSIHL.

Session I

Following the traditional Vedam chanting, the event commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by distinguished dignitaries:

• Dr. Anand Govindaluri, Guest Speaker and Founder & CEO, Govin Capital, Singapore
• Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL
• Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL
• Prof. Pallav Kumar Baruah, Dean of Sciences and President of IIC, SSSIHL
• Dr. Raghunatha Sharma, Director, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Dr. B. E. Pradeep, IPR Coordinator, IIC-SSSIHL, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the day. The inaugural address was presented by Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, who emphasized the significance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of investment in scaling scientific research.

Ms. Premembika from the Anantapur Campus introduced the guest speaker. Dr. Anand Govindaluri then delivered a compelling keynote address on the topic, “Attracting Venture Capital Funding to Scientific Research and Innovations”. Drawing from over two decades of experience in venture investment and entrepreneurship, Dr. Anand shared valuable insights and inspiring real-world examples. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, during which he provided in-depth responses to participants’ queries citing real-world cases and insights.

Watch the recording of Session I: https://www.youtube.com/live/p-Um1VMFpvc?si=MEZ8-FmAXMyC69MN

Session II

The second session was a closed-door hands-on workshop, where selected participants showcased their research and entrepreneurial ideas through a concise “One-Slide Presentation”. The participants included:

• Sai Darshini, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Amrita Shaw, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Mounika Pandey, Research Scholar, ATP campus
• Dr. Vishweshwar, Assistant professor, DCHEM, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus
• Dr. Murali Ravi, Assistant Professor, DPHY, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Each presentation received detailed feedback from Dr. Anand Govindaluri, who expressed a strong interest in two of the projects, noting their potential for commercialization and investment. This endorsement provided a major boost to the confidence and motivation of the participants.

Session III

The concluding session included another enlightening talk by Dr. Anand titled, “Social and Scientific Innovations and Investors’ Dilemma”, where he elaborated on the challenges and opportunities that innovators and investors face in the current global scenario.

An open house discussion allowed for a free exchange of thoughts, clarifications, and further learning. The event concluded with remarks by Dr. Murali Ravi, who appreciated the inspiring guidance provided by the speaker and the active participation of the attendees, followed by a vote of thanks and Mangala Aarathi.

Watch the recording of Session III: https://www.youtube.com/live/-KPq8k3at9g?si=11XjzVObQRfJaJFC

The workshop proved to be a highly impactful initiative, leaving participants better informed about the venture capital ecosystem and inspired to transform their research innovations into real-world solutions.

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We are proud to share that Sai Tarun, MBA student, and Dr. Saivinod M.S., Assistant Professor, Department of Management and Commerce, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), received the ‘Best Paper Award’ at the IHUMAST Conference (International Conference on Innovative Horizons Uniting Management, Accounting, Sustainability and Technology). The conference was hosted by the Department of Management, St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, on 21–22 March 2025.

Their research paper, titled “A Systematic Literature Review of Greenwashing and Ethical Considerations in India,” was one of only two papers shortlisted for this recognition from several entries submitted by researchers across the country.

The paper explores the escalating issue of greenwashing in India, where companies make exaggerated or misleading claims about their environmental responsibility. It delves into the ethical and governance challenges that arise from such practices and the resulting difficulties faced by consumers and stakeholders in identifying genuinely sustainable businesses. Through a review of academic literature, industry case studies, and existing regulatory frameworks, the study calls for greater transparency, stronger governance, and more effective policy measures to address this issue.

Key Insights

• Identifies major governance and ethical challenges associated with greenwashing.
• Highlights the importance of consumer awareness and effective policy in addressing deceptive practices.
• Emphasizes the need for regulatory transparency and accountability in corporate sustainability efforts.

Impact

• Provides a thematic framework to guide future research and policymaking.
• Raises awareness about the ethical risks of misleading environmental claims.
• Encourages improved corporate governance and supports the development of stricter regulatory standards in India.

This recognition is a testament to the academic rigor and relevance of the research conducted at SSSIHL and reflects our continued commitment to contributing to pressing global issues through thoughtful, ethical inquiry.

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) marked a significant milestone in its research and innovation journey with the inauguration of the Science, Analytics & Innovation with High Performance Computing (SAI-HPC) Facility at the Central Research Instruments Facility (CRIF) on 7 April 2025.

The state-of-the-art facility was inaugurated by the Honourable Chancellor, Sri K Chakravarthi, I.A.S. (Retd.), in the presence of Sri R J Rathnakar, Managing Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prof. B Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL, Dr. Srikanth Khanna, Registrar, SSSIHL and other senior members and faculty of the Institute.

Empowering Research with Advanced Computing

The SAI-HPC Facility is poised to significantly enhance the Institute’s research capabilities in emerging and critical areas, including:

• Genome sequencing and analysis
• Genetic markers for pathogen resistance
• Cryo-EM structure determination of macromolecular assemblies
• Peptides and CAR-T Cell therapy
• Cancer and Tuberculosis treatment
• Innovations in Cardiology and Orthopedics

The facility will also serve as a powerful enabler for interdisciplinary research involving AI, deep learning, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and large-scale data analytics.

View Short Video on SAI HPC

Key Infrastructure Highlights

Computational Power:

581 TFLOPS GPU + 195 TFLOPS CPU, purpose-built for advanced computation across disciplines.

High-Performance GPUs & CPUs:

Equipped with NVIDIA RTX 4090 & H200 NVL GPUs, and the latest Intel & AMD multi-core processors to support diverse research demands.

Enterprise-Grade Storage:

Over 520TB+ scalable NAS storage, ensuring secure and seamless data handling for academic and research projects.

Precision Cooling System:

Energy-efficient design ensures optimal system performance and sustainability.

Advanced Networking:

High-speed 10GB connectivity across the Institute to support seamless access and data transfer.

Driving Collaborative Research

The SAI-HPC Facility will also catalyse new and ongoing collaborations between SSSIHL and various research entities, including:

• Government-funded research programs
• Private research institutions
• Sister organizations such as the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (SSSIHMS)

This facility is a testament to the Institute’s commitment to providing the best infrastructure for cutting-edge, socially relevant research.

A Tribute to the Divine Vision

The team dedicated the inauguration to the Divine Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, offering their heartfelt gratitude for His continual guidance and inspiration, seeking His blessings on this new chapter in SSSIHL’s research mission.

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