IIT Bombay's Virtual Convocation: Digital Avatars Of Students Received Medals & Degree

This COVID-19 pandemic has made us miss so many things we held close to our heart. Whether it was the IPL, or the Tokyo Olympics or students who missed their convocation, to celebrate their achievement with their fellow students.

While several colleges tried with convocation ceremonies online, through a video call, the impact wasn¡¯t as strong as intended. However, IIT Bombay surely took this to a whole new level at its 58th convocation that was held on Sunday.

Twitter: PIB Maharashtra

Students attended the IIT Bombay convocation as if COVID-19 didn¡¯t exist -- without facemasks sitting next to each other in a tightly packed auditorium. Although all this happened virtually. The institution created 3D avatars of each of the students and using CGI (computer-generated imagery) they made the students walk up to the stage as they were awarded their degrees.

Twitter: PIB Maharashtra

Along with the students were professor Duncan Haldane, co-recipient of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Physics who was present as the Chief guest, as well as Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone who was there as the guest of honour.

Bringing the campus to life, digitally

A team of 20 individuals were responsible for bringing the convocation to life, digitally all from the 3D rendered avatars of the students to the procession and ceremony that concluded the event.

Along with this, students also got access to a digital avatar of the entire campus where they could walk through the halls, classrooms and loiter with other friends and relive their memories once more.

Behind the scenes

Sahil Shah from the computer science and engineering department told TOI, ¡°A web application automatically connected us to people (their 2D cartoons) who were in close proximity on the map, through video calls. On Saturday, we were given access to our hostels¡¯ maps, and on Sunday evening, we could virtually roam on the campus and video chat with friends and faculty. I may have connected to more than 50 people through video calls.¡± Shah was the recipient of the ¡®President of India¡¯ medal for his exemplary performance.

Twitter: PIB Maharashtra

P Sunthar, co-convenor of the ceremony, shared with TOI how they made the entire delegation of 58 members sit or stand together for the national anthem. ¡°The individual videos were shot with professors over five days and then they were put together to give that collective representation... Each professor was called separately and was asked to walk to the dais and then take their positions on stage. All COVID norms were strictly followed. ¡±