- Prelude:
The morning of 14th October 2025 dawned with anticipation and excitement at Shiv Nadar University Chennai, as the campus witnessed its first-ever Research Day celebration – Heuresis 2025. The day commenced with “Tamizh Thai Vazhthu”, gracefully, setting an inspiring tone for the proceedings that followed.
2. Inaugural Session:
The inaugural session began at 9:00 AM in the AB3 Seminar Hall, marking the formal beginning of Heuresis 2025. The Vice Chancellor warmly welcomed the participants, emphasizing that research is not just about finding answers but about daring to ask the right questions – even the “stupid” ones. He spoke about the importance of keeping track of advancing technologies and encouraged introspection, exploration, and creativity in the pursuit of knowledge.
Following the welcome address, the Vice Chancellor inaugurated the Research Day by officially releasing the e-Proceedings.
3. Keynote Address: Prof. Ravi Sundaram
The keynote session featured Prof. Ravi Sundaram from Northeastern University, Boston, USA, who delivered an engaging talk during the inaugural. He drew parallels between ancient barter systems and modern research exchanges, referring to the concept of “double coincidence of wants”. His address inspired participants to look beyond conventional boundaries and explore interdisciplinary synergy. The poster presentations were viewed by the Chief Guests, sparking lively discussions and insightful exchanges between presenters and visitors.
4. Parallel Academic Sessions
From 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, the event hosted 21 paper presentations and 20 poster presentations across parallel sessions in AB3 Seminar Hall and Lecture Hall 1. Each participant had 7 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes for Q&A. These sessions showcased the wide-ranging research interests of UG, PG, PhD students, and faculty, covering domains from technology and science to humanities and social innovation.
5. Panel Discussion: “Academic Research – The Road Ahead”
The post-lunch session featured a panel discussion that explored the evolving landscape of academic research, its ethics, and its future direction. The discussion began at 1:15 PM and was moderated gracefully, drawing in-depth insights from distinguished panelists and the mediator Prof. Cherry Mathew Philipose:
– Prof. Venkatachalam, RBI Chair Professor, MIDS
– Dr. Hema A. Murthy, Distinguished Visiting Faculty (SNU Chennai) & Professor Emeritus (Hon.), IIT Madras
– Prof. Santosh Mahapatra, Associate Professor, Department of HSS, BITS Hyderabad
– Dr. Punith Cariappa, Finance Trainer
Highlights from the Panelists’ Talks:
Prof. Hema A. Murthy discussed the evolution of digital processing and computing, emphasizing that the real systemic problem in India isn’t predatory journals, but the lack of a strong publication ecosystem. She encouraged inter-institutional collaboration and more rigorous evaluation of student research, suggesting a reduction in student–faculty ratio and better mentoring practices.
Prof. Venkatachalam expanded the discussion to the vast expanse of economics and sustainability. He envisioned GST reforms by 2047 and spoke about the forest cover as a “silent industry”, emphasizing the economic value of ecosystem services that are not accounted for in GDP. He urged scholars to focus on how research can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development and global well-being. He also discussed AI in education, assessment, and language policies, reminding students to “learn to enjoy the process” and not fear it.
Dr. Punith Cariappa brought a view from the world of finance and corporate research. She advised researchers to ensure their work contributes to real-world applications, academia, or industry, rather than mere publication counts. “Don’t multitask in research,” she cautioned. “You can’t be a master of everything. Be passionately obsessed with what you pursue.”
Prof. Santosh Mahapatra focused on peer reviewing and interdisciplinary research, encouraging short communications and brief papers to share ideas widely. He emphasized the importance of failures and rejections as integral parts of the academic journey – echoing the sentiment “Publish or Perish” but with balance and purpose.
The panelists collectively emphasized:
– Quality over quantity in publications.
– Need for institutional support through workshops, funding opportunities, and collaborations.
– International networking as a key to global visibility.
– Cultivating an environment that encourages curiosity, persistence, and resilience.
6. Valedictory Session: Celebrating Achievements
The Valedictory Session began in the Seminar Hall, summarizing the key outcomes of the day’s sessions. Certificates were distributed to all participants, and awards were presented to the best papers and posters.
Dr. Santhi Ma’am delivered the Vote of Thanks, acknowledging the enthusiastic participation of students, faculty, and guests who made the inaugural Research Day a grand success.
7. Closing Note
Heuresis 2025 marked a new beginning in the University’s journey towards fostering a vibrant research culture. It reminded every scholar that research is not a race for publication, but a pilgrimage of thought, reflection, and relevance.
