In a significant milestone for the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER) at Berhampur in Odisha’s Ganjam district, the third batch of students was conferred with BS-MS dual degrees during the institute’s convocation ceremony. A total of 102 students from the 2018 batch received their certificates, specializing in Biological, Chemical, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences. The ceremony recognized the academic excellence of the graduating class, with 12 students awarded BS degrees with distinction and 25 students receiving MS degrees with distinction. Notably, the convocation also marked a groundbreaking moment for IISER, with two students, Purbasha Dasgupta (Biological Sciences) and Mahesh Kumar Ram (Mathematical Sciences), being awarded PhDs for the first time, signaling the institute’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary approaches to scientific education.

Among the outstanding achievers, Tanisha Bhattacharya from the Department of Biological Sciences was honored with the prestigious President’s Gold Medal for her exceptional academic performance across all disciplines of the BS-MS Dual Degree program. Additionally, Ritika Sethi from the Department of Physical Sciences received the esteemed Director’s Gold Medal for her remarkable all-round achievements and leadership within the graduating class. The event not only celebrated the achievements of the students but also underscored IISER’s dedication to imparting cutting-edge science education, paving the way for future scientific leaders with an interdisciplinary perspective.