Prithvi 2026, the annual symposium of the Department of Geology and Geophysics, IIT Kharagpur, was organized from 3rd to 5th April 2026, commemorating the platinum jubilee and 75 years of the department’s legacy. The three-day symposium brought together students, researchers, academicians, alumni, and industry professionals through a series of technical events, lectures, competitions, and interactive sessions, creating a vibrant platform for learning and collaboration within the geoscience community

A special note of gratitude is extended to the Society of Petroleum Geophysicists (SPG) IIT Kharagpur Student Chapter for their support and contribution towards the successful organization of the event. We extend our special thanks to Professor Paresh Nath Singha Roy for his constant guidance and encouragement throughout the symposium.

Day 1 - 3rd April 2026

Prithvi 2026 commenced with Saraswati Vandana and lamp lighting in the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Asit Saha, Aloke Bagchi, Nandini Nityananda, and Suman Chakraborty, along with faculty members, alumni, and students.

A major highlight of the day was the alumni felicitation ceremony, where eminent alumni including Tuhin Kumar Mukherjee, Sudhanshu Shekhar Bakshi, Partha Pratim Mitra, RSN Chaudhury, and Debdas Ray were honored for their contributions to the geoscience community.

The celebration of 175 years of the Geological Survey of India featured insightful talks by Shri Asit Saha and Shri Siladitya Sengupta, highlighting GSI’s milestones, research achievements, and future exploration goals. This was followed by an interactive Q&A session titled “Opportunities in Geosciences,” where students engaged with industry leaders and alumni on careers, research, and developments in the energy and exploration sectors.

The post-lunch session included Mantle Mind, an engaging geoscience quiz competition that witnessed enthusiastic participation, followed by a talk by Mahesh G. Pimpramule from KPMG India on “Transforming India’s Mining Sector.” The day concluded with Grab-A-Fault, a lively debate competition that encouraged participants to present structured arguments on science and technology-related topics.

Day 2 - 4th April 2026

Day 2 of Prithvi 2026 continued with tremendous enthusiasm and participation. One of the major attractions of the day was GeoForensics, where participants identified minerals and rocks through practical observation and analytical skills. The second and final rounds of the competition were conducted on this day, creating an engaging and hands-on learning experience for all participants.

The day also featured an insightful talk by Patricia Persaud on the application of autonomous sensors and artificial intelligence in improving earthquake resilience. The session explored seismic methods, nodal arrays, wavefield simulations, and velocity models with examples from Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, followed by an interactive discussion with the audience.

This was followed by a detailed session on “A Comprehensive Approach in Understanding the Domain of Geology” by Debdas Ray, one of the distinguished alumni of the department and a renowned retired professor of Ashutosh College. His lecture covered both fundamental and intricate concepts of geology, which kept the students highly engaged throughout the session.

The day further continued with Mantle Mind, the geoscience quiz competition, where students enthusiastically participated in testing their analytical and technical knowledge. Prof. Debdas Ray also interacted with the participants by presenting a few thought-provoking questions, making the event even more engaging and interactive.

Post-lunch, a well-conducted debate competition sponsored by Rezlytix was held, where participants presented insightful arguments and discussions on science and technology-related topics. The competition encouraged critical thinking and active participation among students.

The day concluded with a gala dinner, where students, participants, volunteers, sponsors, professors, alumni, and guests came together to interact and exchange their thoughts and experiences. The evening provided a warm and memorable atmosphere, allowing everyone to connect while enjoying the dinner and celebrations together.

Day 3 - 5th April 2026

The final day of Prithvi 2026 began with Strata-Seek, an exciting and engaging treasure hunt event where participants solved clues and navigated through different locations to reach the final destination. The event created a lively atmosphere and encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and enthusiasm among the students.

This was followed by GeoInsight, the poster presentation event, where participants showcased their research ideas, technical knowledge, and innovative approaches in various domains of geoscience. Alongside this, GeoPixels and LithoLaughs featured photography and meme presentation showcases, allowing students to creatively express geological concepts and experiences through visuals and humor.

Post-lunch, the fest concluded with the closing ceremony, where winners of various competitions and events were awarded for their performances and contributions throughout the symposium. The ceremony also included concluding words from the students and members of the Prithvi committee, including the president, reflecting on the success and memorable experiences of the three-day event. The event ended with the Vote of Thanks delivered by the Prithvi chairperson, expressing gratitude to the guests, sponsors, faculty members, volunteers, participants, and everyone who contributed to making Prithvi 2026 a grand success.