IIST celebrated its 19th Foundation Day on 18 September 2025 with a mix of inspiring talks and hands-on activities for visiting students. The day began with a welcome by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, followed by the Foundation Day Lecture by Prof. Sanjay Behari, Director, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. His talk on “From being weighted to weightlessness: Expanding the realms of Space Medicine and biomedical technology development” offered fascinating insights into how space research can transform healthcare on Earth and beyond. Prof. Kuruvilla Joseph, Pro Vice Chancellor, IIST, proposed the vote of thanks.

As part of the Open Day, students and faculty from nearby schools and colleges visited IIST. Prof. Dipankar Banerjee gave a talk and interacted with the visiting students. Water rocket launche, solar observation through telescopes, jet engines display, interactive sessions on Optics, Geology, Startup, and visit to ground station, Art and Space Museum, and Library were arranged for the visitors. Over 280 students from institutions including Heera College of Engineering, Sree Chitra College of Engineering, Chritujyothi School Nedumangad, and Kairali Vidya Bhavan Nedumangad joined us, making the campus vibrant with curiosity and energy. The celebrations concluded with a lively Food Fest organised by IIST students, adding flavour and festivity to the day.