The Campus Connect

BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus alumni Abhay Egoor, Krishna Teja Penamakuru and Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy, co-founders of Dhruva Space, marked another milestone as the company’s LEAP-2 mission successfully launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on 2 October 2026 and was deployed into orbit.

LEAP-2 is Dhruva Space’s second commercial hosted-payload mission, carrying multiple technologies for in-orbit demonstrations, including a star tracker and SatLeo Labs’ TAPAS-1 thermal-imaging payload. Dhruva Space also handled the end-to-end launch integration with Falcon 9, expanding its role from satellite development into complete mission delivery.

On 9 October 2026, BITS Pilani alumni from batches spanning 1989 to 2023 came together in Bengaluru for an evening of connection, reflection and collaboration. The gathering, attended by Prof. Suman Kundu, Director, BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, brought alumni together to reconnect with their alma mater and fellow BITSians.

The interaction focused on recent campus developments, initiatives and the future vision of BITS Goa, while also providing an opportunity for alumni to exchange ideas and share valuable feedback. The gathering highlighted the continued engagement and support of the BITSian community across generations.

In a major breakthrough from our campus labs, researchers at BITS Pilani K. K. Birla Goa Campus have successfully developed a pharmaceutical polymer-based hydrogel optimized for extrusion-based 3D printing.

This innovative study utilizes pharmaceutical-grade polymers—such as starch, maltodextrin, and sodium alginate—to create an affordable, single-hydrogel solution. This approach aims to solve major bottlenecks associated with traditional bioinks, including material variability, safety concerns, high costs, and complex regulatory approvals.

Led by campus researchers—including Prof. Anasuya Ganguly and Prof. Rashmi Chauhan who have been heavily involved in spearheading this bioink project—the formulation demonstrated an impressive 87% thixotropic recovery, meaning it perfectly retains its structural integrity after printing. To prove its versatility, the team successfully incorporated the drug glimepiride into the hydrogel to produce 3D-printed, customised chewable tablets.

While currently a research-stage demonstration rather than a clinically approved medical product, this development paves the way for the future of skin tissue engineering and highly personalized drug delivery right here from Goa.

Prof. Indrakshi Raychowdhury, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at K. K. Birla BITS Pilani, Goa Campus, shared her insights on India’s quantum computing potential in The Times of India. She highlighted hybrid quantum computing, integrating quantum processors with GPUs and supercomputers, as an approach to advancing the field.

BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goa Campus, hosted a Sensitisation Workshop on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on 17 October 2026, in collaboration with the HTA Resource Hub, ICMR-NIRRWoH, Mumbai. The workshop explored the evaluation of medicines, medical devices, diagnostics and digital health technologies, emphasising evidence-informed healthcare decision-making and the application of HTA frameworks in India.

The initiative underscored the importance of research-driven approaches in advancing healthcare accessibility and strengthening public health systems.

As a strong start to Open Day 2026, the Joshipura-AICTE IDEA Lab, a new initiative by BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, was inaugurated on 31st October. The lab was inaugurated by alumni Mr. Shishir Joshipura, Professor Suman Kundu, Professor Sachin Waigaonkar and Professor Sarang Dhongdi.

The lab is envisioned as an innovation hub where students, faculty and staff can move beyond theoretical learning to design, experiment and develop practical solutions. Equipped to support problem-solving, the space aims to nurture creativity and translate ideas into tangible innovations.

The IDEA Lab also introduced the Campus Challenge, inviting students to develop solutions to three real-world problems identified on campus. Shortlisted teams stand to receive academic credit, opportunities to interact with entrepreneurs and industry leaders, and further support to take their ideas towards implementation.

Nimesh Sharma, Rishi Baskaran and Manan Aggarwal, students of BITS Pilani K K Birla Goa Campus, delivered stellar performances at the Goa State Selection Snooker Tournament. Nimesh secured gold and Rishi silver in the Under-21 category, while Manan won gold in the Under-19 category. With these wins, all three earned a strong chance of representing Goa at the upcoming Nationals in Karnataka.

The BITS Goa Fashion Club secured first place in the flagship fashion modeling event at Waves 2026. Competing against top collegiate teams from across the country, the members captivated the judges and audience with dynamic choreography and striking apparel styling.

Embracing the festival spirit, their performance combined creative concepts with flawless runway presence. Securing the top victory on home ground highlights the exceptional talent and growing creative caliber of the campus community.

The BITS Goa dance contingent delivered an impressive performance at Waves 2026, securing top-three finishes across two dance events. The team clinched second place in the non-thematic category of Natyanjali, while Shreya Sajit brought home third place in Nrityakala in the individual category.

These achievements highlight the talent, dedication and artistic excellence of BITS Goa’s dancers on the inter-university stage.

The BITS Goa theatre contingent delivered an impressive performance at Waves 2026, securing podium finishes in both Rangmanch and Nukkad Natak. Competing against talented teams from colleges across the country, the contingent clinched third place in Rangmanch, the stage-play competition, and second place in Nukkad Natak, showcasing its theatrical prowess, creativity and versatility across different formats.

These achievements mark another successful outing for the contingent, adding to BITS Goa’s growing tally of accolades at this year’s cultural festival.

qBITS, the quantum computing club of BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, hosted the IBM PLUS Qiskit Fall Fest from 28th October to 1st November, bringing together curious minds and technology enthusiasts to explore the future of computing and science. The fest featured an exciting 72-hour hackathon with substantial cash prizes, giving participants an opportunity to challenge themselves, collaborate and develop innovative solutions. Attendees also had the chance to learn from leading researchers in the field through insightful talks and discussions. Gaming nights and several other engaging activities added to the excitement, making the event a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Adding to the experience, attendees and hackathon participants received official IBM certificates, recognising their participation in this celebration of quantum computing and innovation. The fest provided a platform for learning, collaboration and exploration, encouraging participants to discover the possibilities of quantum computing and engage with emerging technologies.

The BITS Goa Sports Club (BGSC) continued its skill-specific workshop series at BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, with the second session held on 18th October at the Student Activity Centre (SAC).

Building on the feedback received from the first session, the workshop incorporated improvements to make the learning experience more structured and engaging for participants. The session continued to focus on handstand and L-sit progressions, allowing participants to build on the techniques they had previously learned and work towards mastering these challenging skills.

With an emphasis on consistent practice, proper technique and gradual progression, the workshop encouraged participants to push their limits and improve their strength, balance and body control. The session reflected BGSC’s commitment to fostering a fitness oriented campus community by providing students with opportunities to develop new skills, learn collaboratively and work towards their fitness goals.

Aparajito and the Durga Puja Committee brought six days of festivities, traditions and togetherness to BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus, with Durga Puja 2026 celebrated from 16th to 21st October at the Student Activity Centre (SAC).

The celebrations brought the spirit of Bengal’s biggest festival to campus, offering students an opportunity to immerse themselves in its rich cultural traditions. The festivities featured the rhythmic beats of the dhaak, traditional bhog, cultural performances and engaging games, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with joy and enthusiasm.

The event welcomed everyone, from those familiar with the traditions of Durga Puja to those experiencing the festival for the first time. It provided a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to come together, appreciate Bengali culture and participate in the celebrations as one campus community.

The Department of Computer Science and Information Systems hosted an invited technical talk on 21st October at BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus.

Dr. Karthik Gurumoorthy, Director of AI/ML at Optum India, addressed students and faculty on scalable approaches to Mixed Integer Linear Programming. Drawing on his research across operations research and combinatorial optimization, Dr. Gurumoorthy explained how casting problems as subset selection significantly reduces computational complexity in large scale systems like warehouse routing and inventory allocation.

On 14th October, the Student Alumni Relations Cell of BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, organised a Graphic Design Workshop to familiarise its new inductees with popular design tools such as Canva and introduce them to the basics of video editing.

Conducted by the second-year members of the Cell, the workshop began with an introduction to the tools and their interfaces, followed by an interactive session where participants could experiment with the software, explore their creativity, and learn from their seniors.

Beyond developing new skills, the workshop provided an opportunity for the new inductees to connect with senior members, seek guidance, and strengthen bonds within the Cell.