SAI International celebrated the life of the education revolutionist, Late Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, founder-chairman, SAI International Education Group, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at the inauguration of the ‘Galaxy of Stars’ by Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, Professor Ganeshi Lal. The event also featured the first ‘Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo Memorial Lecture’ by Dr. Prasant Mohapatra, vice-chancellor, University of California, Davis.
Dr. Silpi Sahoo, Chairperson, SAI International Education Group welcomed the esteemed guest in her opening speech. Students and parents were gathered in the Indraprastha auditorium of SAI International School to witness this historic moment. Being the birth anniversary of late Dr. Sahoo, the ‘Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo Memorial Lecture’ will be inducted to be continued each year on this date.
The first Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo Memorial Lecture 2022 was delivered by Dr. Prasant Mohapatra, vice-chancellor, University of California, Davis who is also on the advisory board of SAI International Education Group. An eminent academician, Dr. Mohapatra received his doctoral degree from Penn State University in 1993, an Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award in 2008 and was the recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Award from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India.
Dr. Prasant Mohapatra emphasized on how the future could be an amalgamation of human intelligence with artificial intelligence. He advised the students and other curators of education to focus more on the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, and less on the applications offered by it. He said that is extremely relevant for students to understand the shortcomings of AI, and know the difference between the good AI & bad AI. He further added, ‘Artificial Intelligence is the practice that has the capability of transforming old methods of teaching.’
Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo Memorial Lecture will be conducted annually to discuss on the topics of Education, a genre Late Dr. Sahoo was most emotional and dedicated towards. These lectures will provide a forum for dynamic academic debates and the exchange of innovative global ideas in the field of education. It is indeed an imperative step towards spreading awareness on topics of innovation and discovery in the field of education. The topic for the first lecture is “Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Future of Education’.
The ‘Galaxy of Stars’, a dream project of Late Dr. Bijaya Sahoo was inaugurated by Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, Prof Shri Ganeshi Lal. Galaxy of Stars is a promising endeavour that is introduced to foster scientific temperament, curiosity, and critical thinking in the children of SAI International. It is a centre for sharing knowledge on space and research. It will be a platform to learn about planets, constellations, and the universe. This centre will organize various educational activities to cultivate a spirit of scientific enquiry and creativity among the students. At “Galaxy of Stars”, it’s our mission to nurture child’s curiosity introducing scientific concepts to the students through astronomy. A statue of Founder-Chairman, Dr. Bijaya Sahoo is also placed within the ‘Galaxy of Stars’ to incessantly remind the students everyday what the man stood for and push them further to innovate more in various facets of science and technology.
Followed by that, the renewed official website of SAI International Education Group and SAI International School was also inaugurated by Prof. Lal. Addressing the students and parents present in the auditorium, Prof. Lal said, “SAI is an institution of awakening, serenity & simplicity.” He expressed that the students should continue to innovate irrespective of all adversities and how the sparkle of curiosity in a child’s eye should never cease to exist, for, these children will open up numerous avenues by innovation, for building a better India, eventually making the world a better place with infinite possibilities of growth & prosperity, i.e., heaven on earth. He stressed on ‘unity in diversity’ being one of the prominent learnings at school that shapes children from their early years.
“We will continue in this journey of making a Better India through Education started by our Founder Chairman, Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, with even more passion and vigour as we have many more milestones to achieve”, expressed Dr. Silpi Sahoo, Chairperson, SAI International School on this propitious day.
Shri Nilakantha Panigrahi, Director Academics & Sr. Principal; Prakash Sahoo, Principal Secondary; Rashmi Pandey, Principal Primary from SAI International School and Amitabh Agnihotri, Head-Master, SAI International Residential School were also present at the occasion.
Lastly, in the memory of Dr. Bijaya Sahoo, SAI Alumni ushered a humble tribute to their Founder-Chairman, Dr Bijaya Kumar Sahoo and shared their fondest memories of him.
Also read: Dr Bijaya Sahoo among 5 to receive D.Litt from Utkal University
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