Himalayan Nari Shakti Samman conferred on UPES faculty

Dr. Neelu Jyoti Ahuja, Professor and Head, Department of Systemics, School of Computer Science, UPES, has been awarded the prestigious Second Himalayan Nari Shakti Samman-2020. Dr. Ahuja has also been a part of the Shakti leadership training programme at UPES

Under the aegis of Uttarakhand State Law Commission and Uttarakhand Human Rights Protection Center, on International Women’s Day, 25 women from Uttarakhand were felicitated for their immense contribution in various fields. Dr. Neelu Jyoti Ahuja was amongst the 25 women leaders who were awarded the Second Himalayan Nari Shakti Samman-2020. 

Dr. Neelu Jyothi Ahuja is a Professor and Head-Department of Systemics, at School of Computer Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun. Her Doctorate, awarded in 2010, was on development of a prototype rule-based expert system for seismic data interpretation. Apart from academic teaching at university level (both at post-graduate and under-graduate levels), she is an active researcher. From period of 2010 to 2017, she was head of Research Centre-Computing Research Institute, spearheading intra-disciplinary research and coordinating research activities.

When asked about her winning attitude, she says: “I have always been a disciplined, academically-inclined individual; a firm believer in continually upskilling and contributing to generating new knowledge through research interventions. Being extremely passionate towards my goals, I have chosen a career to contribute to nation building. An avid researcher and academician, I believe in sharing and spreading knowledge and supporting students towards their growth and accomplishments.”

Dr. Ahuja has successfully delivered halfa-dozen government sponsored projects worth INR 2 crore, under various domains, ranging from Artificial Intelligence applications such as Intelligent Tutoring Systems, to technology interventions for learning of disabled children. In the capacity of a member of the core group she attended the Plan Meeting on improving access to Priority Assistive Products and Technology, 2017, at Sri Lanka Room, WHO – SEARO (South East Asia Regional Office), IP Estate, New Delhi. She was also a part of the Consultation Meeting for Improving Access to Assistive Products and Technology for Persons with Disabilities and Elders held at WHO SEARO Headquarters, New Delhi, India, in 2016.

An attitude to always encourage students,” Dr. Ahuja says, “to discover their potential and excel, has been the way to work for me. Scaffolding them to go beyond the boundaries of a classroom and show their talent, at various universities and institutes of repute, has led to them bringing over many laurels to UPES. Whether it is grabbing coveted titles, prizes, placements, or highly-acclaimed recognitions, students have done it all. Developing them as ethically-strong, environmentally-conscious, well-rounded professionals, placing them as leaders of tomorrow, has been my end goal always.”