IEEE Education Society Member Spotlight

Full Name: Abhishek Mahesh Appaji 
Affiliation: B.M.S. College of Engineering
Location: Bengaluru, India

Current Role: Associate Professor, B.M.S. College of Engineering, India and Treasurer, IEEE Education Society.

Website: https://www.abhishekappaji.com/

How did you get involved with the IEEE Education Society?

My journey with IEEE EdSoc began through a deep passion for engineering education and mentorship as a faculty for more than a decade. As I led various STEM education and outreach programs in schools and underserved communities, I was inspired by IEEE EdSoc’s mission to improve learning globally. This eventually led to my involvement at a strategic level, and I’m honored to now serve as the Treasurer of the Society, contributing to its vision on a global scale.

What are you currently working on?

I’m actively working on integrating AI and signal processing into clinical workflows through projects like the Smart Eye Kiosk, Digital X-ray and Smart BCG Bed in collaboration with my peers and industries. I have also extensively worked on Retinal Imaging for Psychiatry through my funded projects and started applying AI for this unique and novel field of computational neuroscience. Alongside my responsibilities as Treasurer of IEEE EdSoc, I also serve on the IEEE MGA Chapter Operations Committee and HT Project Monitoring Subcommittee, supporting global volunteer development and humanitarian tech initiatives. I am also part of the IEEE DataPort steering committee and currently contributing for the site enhancement. Through the BIG Foundation, a not for profit company, I mentor startups led by students / academicians and promote academia-industry synergies to scale real-world solutions.

Why is engineering education important to you?

To me, engineering education is more than imparting technical knowledge—it’s about empowering individuals to become global problem-solvers. Whether it’s designing K–12 STEM programs or guiding my students or mentoring guiding early-stage innovators, I believe accessible, experiential education equips young minds to tackle global societal challenges and build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

What has IEEE EdSoc meant to you?

The IEEE Education Society has provided me with a platform to amplify my passion for learning and mentorship. It has expanded my network and inspired me to work with others to build a more robust, cross-disciplinary, and globally connected educational ecosystem for all. It has also inspired me to apply modern educational tools in my teaching and to mentor others with purpose and impact.

Fun Fact

I’ve traveled to over 50 countries and moonlight as a content creator! One of my Instagram reels crossed 76 million views—proving that engineers can trend too!