Cuttack: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said advanced technologies have brought about a vast change in people’s thinking and working style, but advised them to be careful about the misuse of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Addressing the 13th annual convocation of Ravenshaw University here, Murmu said she was happy to note that the varsity was making good use of these technologies. “This is the era of science and technology. Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, 3D printing and cloud computing have brought about a vast change in our thinking and working style,” she said. Murmu, however, advised “all to be careful about the misuse of these advanced technologies”.

Highlighting the rising academic performance of girl students – who topped 21 of 27 departments in the varsity this year – she said, “Over the last five years, girl students have consistently outperformed boys in academics at the institute. At the post-graduate level, the number of girl students who topped was more than three-and-a-half times that of the boys. This reflects India was moving from women empowerment to women-led development.”

She also expressed satisfaction over the university’s steady increase in enrolment of tribal students, underprivileged and ‘divyang’ students. Calling upon the graduating students to be more sincere and hardworking in future, Murmu said: “From today onwards, your life will take a new turn. You will move out of the academic university and step into a bigger university of life and society. I hope you will also achieve success and laurels in university life and society.”

The President said the educational institution was an active centre of the freedom struggle, and associated with the movement for the formation of the State of Odisha. She also stressed the importance of entrepreneurship and societal contribution by not only getting a job, but providing jobs to others as well.

“If you desire, you can become entrepreneurs and set up your own ventures,” Murmu told the students. “The sense of nation first is our biggest strength. Our soldiers, farmers, scientists, engineers, doctors and people active in various fields are working with the sentiment of increasing the pride of India,” she said.

During the occasion, Murmu also conferred honorary degrees on four noted personalities in recognition of their contributions to different fields. Later, she laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment of three buildings of Ravenshaw Girls’ High School in Cuttack.

On Monday, addressing the 5th convocation of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar, President Murmu said depression and obesity were becoming a matter of concern. She said apart from medicine, awareness is also necessary to treat depression.

“A lifestyle change can provide mental peace. Yoga and pranayama could be helpful in mental health,” she said, urging doctors to make people aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Murmu said obesity, a lifestyle disease, is also a matter of concern.

Noting that AIIMS-Bhubaneswar has grown significantly over the last 12 years, Murmu said, be it patient care, medical research or social welfare activities, it has earned many accolades and won the hearts of the people of Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. She expressed confidence that India will become a leading healthcare destination in the world, thanks to the success of AIIMS.

President Murmu lauded the graduating students for choosing the profession. She gave 59 gold medals to 31 students, and conferred degrees on 643 students, including 196 MBBS graduates.