TechVista 2014, Microsoft Research India’s annual research symposium, was held at Deepsmriti Auditorium, Jaipur. More than 1800 students and academicians attended the daylong event, which brings to life the possibilities and impact research can have on technology and society. Dr. P. Anandan, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India, and several global leaders at Microsoft Research gave talks that vividly brought to life the endless possibilities of a career in research.
TechVista brings together the best minds from the scientific and academic worlds onto a common platform that provides an opportunity for the research community, Government, and students to interact and exchange ideas on research and its future directions.
Through the day packed with speaker sessions, informal interactions, and Q&A, the audience was held enthralled by members of the global leadership of Microsoft Research – Dr. Peter Lee, Corporate Vice President, Head of Microsoft Research, and Dr. Jeanette Wing, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Research – and the speakers. Dr. Lee touched upon the beauty of basic computer research, which so often ends up being applied in completely unexpected ways. Dr. Wing discussed extensively the interplay between Science, Technology, and Society, and the role that can be played by Computer Science Research.
Dr. P. Anandan, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India, engaged students in a discussion about the excitement of a career in research, and the thrills of a lifetime of exploration of ideas. Dr. Anandan drew upon his own life and experiences as a scientist, and wrapped it up by discussing some of the qualities needed to become a successful researcher.
Commenting on the success of TechVista 2014, Dr. Anandan said ”It is always energizing to see the enthusiasm of bright young students, and the consistently positive response by students to a research event like TechVista convinces me that we have a strong pool of potential researchers and innovators in India. I hope that some for the students who attended TechVista will go on to make significant contributions to India and the world.”
Other speakers at TechVista 2014 included Curtis Wong, Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research and the creator of the WorldWide Telescope, and Chris Bishop, Distinguished Scientist, Microsoft Research Cambridge, who spoke about the key ideas of “Computing with Uncertainty”.
