Inauguration of the IEEE Information Theory Society (ITSoC) Student Chapter

The Department of Information Science and Engineering at New Horizon College of Engineering marked a significant academic milestone with the formal inauguration of the IEEE Information Theory Society (ITSoc) Student Chapter. The event, held in the NHCE auditorium on 17th April 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, brought together faculty members, students, and distinguished IEEE representatives to introduce the vision, scope, and future roadmap of the newly established chapter.

The ceremony commenced with an engaging inaugural address by Dr. Chengappa M R, Chair-Elect 2026, IEEE Bangalore Section, Senior Technologist, HPE, who offered a refreshing perspective on the fundamentals of Information Theory. Through a live demonstration inspired by the classic "Chinese Whispers" exercise, he illustrated how messages evolve and degrade when transmitted across channels, effectively highlighting the concept of noise in communication systems. He emphasized the pioneering contributions of Claude Shannon, noting that modern digital communication systems are deeply rooted in Shannon's mathematical frameworks for data transmission and noise management.

Addressing the gathering next, Dr. Ambar Bajpai, Chair, ITSoc Bangalore Chapter, Associate Professor, GITAM University provided an overview of the growing influence of the IEEE Information Theory Society across Karnataka. He noted that the region currently hosts 26 Student Branch chapters and stressed the importance of collaboration through cluster-level initiatives. Outlining future opportunities, he announced plans for launching an ITS Innovation Forum, organizing a Project Expo, and conducting industry-oriented workshops and symposia. He also shared key information regarding IEEE membership, highlighting its accessibility, with student membership offered at a nominal fee of $0.50 and faculty membership at $6.25. Further encouraging student participation, he revealed that the society provides funding support of up to $1000 USD for eligible student-led professional activities. He concluded by announcing a special screening of the documentary The Bit Player scheduled for April 30.

Mr. Muzammil Pasha, Founding Chair, IEEE Entrepreneurship Bangalore Section, IEEE STAR Recruiter 2026, conducted a dedicated session on IEEE membership, guiding attendees through the registration process and introducing the benefits of engaging with the Young Professionals (YP) network. The session was interactive in nature, featuring a quiz that actively involved the audience and concluded with the recognition of four student winners.

The event also featured a strategic roadmap presentation by Jatin Hegde, who outlined a structured plan for the chapter's activities throughout 2026. The roadmap begins with a Membership Drive in April aimed at building a strong and active student community, complemented by a Project Expo to showcase innovative ideas. In May, the chapter plans to launch "Research Forge," an initiative focused on equipping students with skills in modern AI methodologies and research tools. Looking ahead, "Shannon Week" is scheduled for August as a tribute to Claude Shannon, featuring technical competitions and in-depth explorations of information theory concepts. This will be followed by "Tech Creation" in September, designed to promote digital content development and technical communication among students.

The inauguration successfully set the tone for an academically vibrant and research-driven chapter. With a clear roadmap, strong institutional support, and active engagement from IEEE leadership, the NHCE IEEE ITSoC Student Chapter is poised to become a dynamic platform for fostering innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence in the field of Information Theory.