A civil engineer from Bangalore University who learnt the essentials of designing structures. An aeronautical engineer from the IISc who learnt how to design aircraft. A doctorate in mechanical engineering from Yale University who specialised in designing things that move. Finally, a researcher in anesthesiology who studied neurosciences and started exploring the fascinating world of touch.
Srinivas’ ancestors were swayamacharya purushas from that repository of orthodox Vaishnavism – Melkote. He is also a pioneer and authority on Haptics which is a multidisciplinary science “that investigates the relationship between skin mechanics and tactile neuroscience.” At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he works as a faculty member and researcher. “Srini” has established the unique Touch Lab – a laboratory for human and machine haptics. His research in this area has led to the discovery of pathbreaking similarities in humans and modern machines such as robots and computers. 
According to him, just as machine haptics show their ability to recognise, compute and communicate, so too, the study of neurosciences has led to our understanding of how nerve endings in the skin enable the brain, through the sense of touch, to perceive the shape and texture of objects. This is a fascinating field involving biomechanics, neurosciences and psychophysics. Mandyam Srinivas has excelled in all three to lead the way in the world of modern Haptics. Among his many research achievements is his important contribution to medicine and surgery through the development of virtual reality based concepts that will help surgeons to manipulate virtual organs before operating on real patients in future. This research has led to a new field of Brain-Machine connections which can contribute significantly to the doctor/scientist's dream of implanting a neural chip in the brain of a paralysed patient to enable him to control an artificial arm by thought alone. If Mandyam Srinivas breaks new ground here, it will be as significant as his other dream of establishing long distance connections between users across the globe through "touch communication.” The day may not be far off, according to this UVCE alumnus, when such touch communication will become as common as the transmission of pictures and sound. Mandyam Srinivas spoke to Vatsala Vedantam. Excerpts:
You belong to a distinguished tech university whose logo is Means et Manus (Mind and Hand) Can you give three good reasons for its excellence?
MIT motivates researchers who sincerely believe that the world can be made a better place through innovative science and technology. It gives the Intellectual freedom to question established knowledge. It also provides excellent facilities to conduct cutting edge research in a system that rewards intellectual achievement.
You also did your undergrad programme in Bangalore University's most prestigious engineering college. Did it match with those concepts?
The goals of engineering colleges in India are quite different. Here, students are trained to fit into Indian public and private enterprises rather than be innovative thinkers. Whereas, in MIT,  the goal is to help students discover their talents in order to become innovators and leaders in their field.
Do you have suggestions to improve engineering education in India?
Excellence in engineering education requires teachers who have deep academic and practical knowledge, students who are passionate about learning and institutions that encourage the pursuit of creative ideas. We need to build a society that celebrates and rewards intellectual achievements.
How do you make student selections other than entrance tests/end exams?
MIT gets applications from students all over the world who have almost perfect scores. In order to select the very best from this elite group, we look for evidence of intellectual leadership, a passion to pursue ideas, and creativity in a student's past work.
How important is it for a tech university to collaborate with industries?
Very important for tech universities and industries to have professional relationships which benefit both. Universities are enriched by a first hand knowledge of the practices and problems faced by the industry. The industry gains by the fresh perspective and knowledge of the students and faculty.