Sunday, May 18, 2025

Report on Knimbus Training Session: "Effective Use of Subscribed Resources” - 16th May 2025

 

The Learning and Information Resource Centre (LIRC) of St. Francis Institute of  Technology organized a hands-on training session on 16th May 2025 titled “Effective Use  of Subscribed Resources” in collaboration with Knimbus Digital Library Services. The  training was aimed at enhancing awareness and usage of the digital resources subscribed to  by the institute through the Knimbus platform. 

Resource Person: 

The session was conducted by Ms. Kanishka Jindal, Senior Executive from Knimbus. With  a clear and practical approach, she engaged participants through a live demonstration of the  platform's capabilities.

Key Highlights of the Session: 

Introduction to the Knimbus dashboard and user-friendly search features Tips on advanced filtering, keyword optimization, and citation tracking Accessing publisher-specific content such as IEEE, Springer, and McGraw-Hill Exploring personalized features like Saved Searches, Alerts, and Notes Overview of remote access options for off-campus research 

Q&A interaction to address participant-specific queries and technical issues

The training on "Effective Use of Subscribed Resources" successfully met its objectives of  enabling participants to confidently utilize SFIT's digital library through Knimbus. It  reinforced the role of digital platforms in supporting research, teaching, and learning,  aligning with the institute’s commitment to academic excellence. 

Friday, April 25, 2025

📚 World Book and Copyright Day -23rd April 2025: Report

Date: 23rd April 2025

Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: 2nd Floor, B Wing, LIRC


✨ Event Overview

On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, SFIT Library organized a Book Exhibition and Takeaway as well as a Quiz on Plagiarism. The initiative aimed to cultivate a strong reading habit, educate students about the importance of respecting intellectual property, and highlight the significance of honest academic work.


🎯 Objectives

  • Encourage and foster reading habits among students.

  • Promote awareness about copyright issues.

  • Educate students on plagiarism and its prevention.

  • Enable sharing of knowledge through book donations from staff and ex-students.


👥 Participation

  • Book & Magazine Takeaway: 82 Beneficiaries

  • Quiz on Plagiarism: 68 Responses


🏁 Outcome

The initiative was well-received and sparked interest in both reading and academic integrity. Suggestions were made to organize more such events, to further engage students and staff.


🌌 Discovery Alert: Evidence of Life 120 Light-Years Away!

Indian-origin astrophysicist Dr. Nikku Madhusudhan and his team at the University of Cambridge have detected dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, located 120 light-years from Earth. On Earth, DMS is produced by marine life, suggesting the possibility of biological activity on this distant world. 

Using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the researchers found DMS alongside methane and carbon dioxide, indicating a hydrogen-rich, ocean-covered environment—characteristics of a "Hycean" planet. ​

While the findings are promising, Dr. Madhusudhan emphasizes the need for further observations to confirm the presence of life. This discovery opens new avenues in the search for extraterrestrial life beyond our solar system. ​

📚 For more details, read the full article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/who-is-indian-origin-dr-nikku-madhusudhan-the-scientist-who-found-evidence-of-life-120-light-years-away-from-earth/articleshow/120369180.cms


#SpaceDiscovery #Exoplanet #LifeBeyondEarth #DrNikkuMadhusudhan #HyceanPlanet #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Top Users of Knimbus M Library Platform - March 2025

 


Krishna Bharat: The Mind Behind Google News

Krishna Bharat: The Mind Behind Google News

Meet Krishna Bharat, the visionary behind Google News. A frustration with the cluttered, unreliable news on the internet led him to create one of the most popular and influential platforms we use today.

As an IIT Madras graduate, Bharat joined Google and used the company’s “20% time” policy—where employees could work on their own ideas—to build Google News. The platform, launched in 2002, became a game-changer in how we consume news.

Bharat’s other contributions include shaping products like Google Translate, Gmail, and Google Sky. He has since moved on to inspire innovations in AI and technology, but his work remains at the core of many services we rely on every day.

Read more about his journey and the frustrations that sparked this revolutionary idea:

https://www.financialexpress.com/trending/meet-krishna-bharat-brain-behind-google-news-an-innovation-driven-by-frustration-and-not-employment/3750166/

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Meet Rajeev Motwani — the Indian mind whose ideas helped build Google as we know it!

 

📚 Unsung Genius Behind Google! 🇮🇳💡

Meet Rajeev Motwani — the Indian mind whose ideas helped build Google as we know it!

🧠 Mentor to tech giants like Google & PayPal
📊 Co-author of the original PageRank paper
💡 Co-inventor of Locality-Sensitive Hashing
🏆 Gödel Prize winner (2001)
📚 Stanford professor & author of iconic CS textbooks

From Jammu to IIT Kanpur, then on to UC Berkeley and Stanford — his journey was filled with groundbreaking work and visionary mentorship.

Sergey Brin once said:
"Whenever you use a piece of technology, there's a good chance a little bit of Rajeev Motwani is behind it."

Though he tragically passed in 2009, his legacy continues through every search algorithm and through the Motwani Jadeja Foundation supporting global innovators.

🔍 A true legend whose impact you feel every time you Google something!


Tuesday, April 22, 2025

📖 Celebration of World Book and Copyright Day

 


Date: April 23, 2025

Venue: Learning and Information Resource Centre

Each year, World Book and Copyright Day reminds us of the profound impact books have on shaping ideas, preserving culture, and respecting intellectual creativity. This year, the SFIT Library, in collaboration with the SFIT NDLI Club, is proud to host a vibrant celebration to honor books, authors, and the importance of copyright.

📚 Highlights of the Celebration:

📘 1. Book Exhibition & Takeaway Corner


Explore a specially curated collection of books across genres—ranging from timeless classics to modern thought-leaders.

What’s more? Selected books will be available for a takeaway—yes, you read that right! You can pick a book to keep, read, and cherish, absolutely free. It's our way of spreading the joy of reading.

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." — Cicero

❓ 2. Quiz on Understanding Plagiarism

Organized by the SFIT NDLI Club, this short and engaging quiz aims to spread awareness about plagiarism—what it is, why it matters, and how to avoid it in academic and professional life.
Open to all students, faculty, and staff
🎁 E-certificates for all participants
🕒 Duration: Just 5–10 minutes
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/49va8wv3

Let’s build a culture of academic honesty and originality—because every great idea deserves credit.


We invite every member of the SFIT family to join us in this celebration. Whether you're a lifelong reader, a curious learner, or someone discovering the joy of books—there’s something here for you.

📅 Join us in the Library on April 23rd
🎉 Let’s celebrate the written word and the rights of those who create it.

#WorldBookDay #SFITLibrary #SFITNDLIClub #ReadRespectReflect #CopyrightMatters #SayNoToPlagiarism