IIT Kanpur creates a bio-bubble for all the attendees of its 54th Convocation

Kanpur : Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur prioritized safety and security of the attendees by conducting various health checks prior to the 54th Convocation ceremony to be held in hybrid mode on December 28, 2021. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will be attending the event as the Chief Guest, while Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Anandiben Patel, and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath will be the Guests of Honour.
IIT Kanpur will be hosting physical convocation after a year as last year it was held virtually. Continuing its relentless efforts in mitigating the coronavirus pandemic in India, IIT Kanpur has left no stone unturned for the safety of the students, dignitaries and guests who will be attending the convocation. The institute has made arrangements to do RT-PCR tests of all the attendees a day prior to the convocation. A subsequent RAT will also follow on the Convocation Day prior to opening of gate to the venue of the event. This will be the first time in India where a convocation will be conducted inside the bio-bubble.
Prof. S Ganesh, Deputy Director, IIT Kanpur said, “With great joy comes greater responsibility. As we’re going to celebrate the 54th Convocation in a hybrid mode in the presence of respected invited dignitaries, it is our duty to ensure everyone’s safety. Hence, in view of the constantly changing scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are conducting additional precautionary drills inside the campus. Prior tests are to be conducted to check the health of everyone who will be attending the event physically. This is to ensure utmost safety to all the attendees so that the joy of the occasion is not hampered.”
Bio-bubble is a concept developed recently in the field of sports, especially in cricket, where a bio-secure environment is created to minimize contamination risks from the novel coronavirus. Although the concept has now spread to many sectors, it is probably for the first time that a higher educational institute has adopted such measures for its convocation. This is in line with IIT Kanpur’s vision to ensure holistic well-being and safety for all.
On the occasion, a total of 1723 students will be receiving their degrees and 80 prizes and medals will be given. 21 students will also be awarded the Outstanding PhD Thesis Award in the second session of the convocation. Moreover, three honorary doctorate degrees will be given to three eminent personalities – Prof. Rohini M. Godbole, Senapathy ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan, and Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty.