InnoWah - PALS4 Innovation Challenge

The ‘Innovation Challenge’ – an initiative of Pan IIT Alumni Leadership Series was organized in the last week of March at IIT Madras Research Park. The theme was the challenge was as Alternative energy and Clean Tech as part of the Swachh Bharath initiative.

Eco-friendly innovations

Students from various engineering colleges displayed as many as 13 projects based on five focus areas namely:

1. Energy, 
2. Solar power, 
3. Public hygiene, 
4. Waste recycling 
5. and Water purification. 

The top 13

Aimed at recognizing promising talent for future entrepreneurship and startups, 13 projects were short-listed from over a 100 submissions. An exhibition of the projects was also held at IIT Madras Research Park.

Among the many interesting entries was Pratyusha Institute of Technology's project featuring a two-level water purifier using banana peel. The first layer of purification was through activated carbon, while the second was through banana peel pellets stuffed in a ceramic candle. Karthik Raj, the student who presented the project said, “bacteria would reduce by around 60%. The cost price is just around Rs. 800, and while in a Reverse Osmosis purifier there is 50% water loss, no water is wasted here.”

The Agro Rover’ built by students from Hindustan University was aimed at easing the process of tapioca farming, by using robotic arms to pluck the root. “The rover can be operated through WiFi or through a wired switch, and can also run on solar energy,” said Muthukumaran, the faculty advisor for the team.

Hindustan University Team-1 explaining their Solar powered Agro rover prototype

The finalists were mentored for three days by industry veterans from forums like TiE Chennai. They were given orientations on concepts such as marketing, finance, business plans and more.

The winners 

First prize: Solar powered LPG gas leakage detection and control system

KCG college explaining their project

The prize-winning entry by Sunil Kumar, Saravanan R and S Prathap, final year students of electrical and electronic engineering at KCG College of Technology, was an innovative Solar powered LPG gas leakage detection and control system which can ring an alarm to alert gas leakage, send a message to users, prevent leakage due to a valve fixed between the stove and cylinder, and send a message to the fire department in case of excessive leakage. The device also has a mechanism to detect low levels of gas remaining in the cylinder following which a message will be sent to the gas agency.

Second prize: Waste plastic pyrolysis reactor

Hindustan University explaining their project 

Hindustan University bagged the second prize for their presentation on ‘Waste Plastic Pyrolysis Reactor' which focussed on water recycling. 

Third prize: Fuelling the future 

Pratyusha Institute explaining their project

An all-girls team from Pratyusha Institute of Technology won the third prize for their presentation of hydrogen as an alternate fuel solution to power auto mobiles. Pradeepa, a member of the team explained that electrolysis was used to separate hydrogen from water. “With a litre of water, we can have a mileage of around 65 km, it is 20% more efficient than petrol,” Their investment for each system was estimated at Rs. 1500, and they plan to market it at Rs. 3000 to meet costs.

Winners with the PALS-4 team

Impressions, The Art Club of The IIT Alumni Center

The genesis of Impressions

The first two lines of Hippocrates’s Aphorisms, read "ars longa, vita brevis" which explicitly mean "art is long, life is short". True. Leonardo Da Vinci continues to live through his creations. Much the same way, Michelangelo, D.W. Griffith and Beethoven live through their creations. The aesthetic appreciation of art is a rich experience in itself. The IIT Alumni Center – through its Art Club - Impressions, organizes various exhibitions and sales that showcase the paintings and sculptures of renowned Indian artists.

A starry-eyed launch

Impressions was launched on 2nd October, 2013 with an art show by Padmashri Dr. Thota Tharani. The celebrated artist exhibited a select mini-retrospective titled ’Inspired By Life’. The show was attended by art lovers and enthusiasts, who were enthralled by his works.

Padmashri Dr. Thota Tharani interacting with art enthusiasts

Revisiting the history of modern Indian art

The Arts and Culture series presented two sessions on 20th Century Indian Art conducted by local art collector, Pradipto Mahopatra. In his first session, he introduced the Bengal Movement, an influential art movement and a style of Indian painting that originated in Bengal and flourished throughout India during the early 20th century.

In his next session, Mr. Mahopatra shared interesting details about the Bombay progressive, the most influential group of modern artists in India, formed by Francis Newton Souza and S.H. Raza, and of which M. F. Husain and Manishi Dey were early members.

Pradipto Mahopatra conducted two sessions on 20th Century Indian Art

Promoting women artists

An Art and Craft Mela held in November 2013 exhibited the creations of three talented women artists: Lalitha Ramanarasiah, Ramaa Narayanan and Abirami Jawahar. Their contributions range from abstract painting to paper crafts.

Abirami Jawahar at her handicrafts stall

Women's day art show

Women's Day 2014 was celebrated with an Art and Sculpture Exhibition that focused on yoga and meditation and featured the works of noted women artists such as Thara Ganesan, Kamla Ravikumar and Isaiarasi.

Thara Ganesan is an artist, sculptor and curator, who also wears many other hats as a bilingual poetess, translator, short story writer and literary critic. Her style is unique and she merges emotions with the force of the five elements - Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Ether. Kamla Ravikumar qualified in Art and Interior Design from Mumbai, and is presently an artist and art instructor.

Isaiarasi is a young upcoming artist from Chennai. Isai exhibits for this exhibition have been paintings from her series titled AKASH. From forms to formlessness, creating, dissolving, recreating is the expression of an artist.

The sculptures depict various postures ( Asanas) of the "Suryanamskarâ" in Yoga. There is one continuous sequence of the "Chakrvakasanaâ" depicted in her sculptures through human figures. Mudras in Yoga which can benefit the body are also depicted through life size hand sculptures. There is a two feet height Buddha sculpted in Bronze. 

Art and Sculpture exhibition by noted women artists 

Memberships open!

Becoming a member of the IIT Alumni Center is easy and we’re here to guide you through the process. As a member, you not only get to participate in these events but also enjoy a wide range of elite facilities, and above all, connect with your old friends and make new ones.

Membership is open to alumni and faculty from all the IITs across India.

For club bookings, call us at (044) - 4553-4441 / 4553-4409.

To enquire about or apply for membership, click here.

Visit us: www.iitalumnicenter.org

Women only Workshop

A brief history of women in the 20th century

Virginia Woolf has often been misquoted for writing “for most of history, anonymous is a woman.” which gave birth to a lot of “what if?” sentiments. 

“What if women could rule countries?”

“What if women could climb mountains and cross oceans?”

These thoughts not only saw the growth of feminist writers, but also broke the stereotype that women were big spenders. At the turn of the century, women across the world had become more self-assured about the concept of money, especially in India, where women generally manage their family’s finances.

Women only Workshop - Focusing on the world of personal finances

Keeping up with its commitment towards women empowerment, the IIT Alumni Center launched the Women only Workshop which offers women a great opportunity to understand the world of personal finances. 

A two-hour coaching session, Women only Workshop (WoW) deals with financial planning and implementation. The first session was held on April 9, 2014 and was conducted by Ms. Renu Maheshwari.  The session explored the world of finance and it was found to be very useful by both the members and the corporate guests. It dealt with Planning and implementation of finance, risk profiling and money behaviour analysis. The workshop also provided guidance on how to achieve a life of indulgence and liberty. Held every month at the Club in the City, Abhiramapuram, Chennai, the workshop has completed six sessions.

Women only Workshops explore the world of finance

Guests and speakers

Ms. Renu Maheshwari who conducts the workshop is a SEBI registered Investment Adviser and practices financial planning and portfolio management. With over two decades of experience, Ms. Maheshwari excels in coaching, consulting and advising clients on personal financing. In 2012, she co-founded Finscholarz to provide holistic consulting services.

Renu Maheshwari presiding over a session of the Women only Workshop

Most sessions are presided over by personalities from distinguished backgrounds. Notable chief guests include angel investor and management advisor, Ms. Padma Chandrasekaran, and executive coach, Ms. Rajani Seshadri, who helps leaders in Tata Consultancy Services, hone their strengths and overcome limits, to achieve personal and professional success.

A workshop for members and guests

Women only Workshop has seen large and enthusiastic participation. Invitations are sent to key corporate companies across Chennai to nominate accomplished women from their companies to take part.

Participants at the event

Becoming a member of the IIT Alumni Center is simple:

Complete and submit the application form

Screening Committee will meet to consider the application and you will be notified immediately. (The entire process typically takes around 3 weeks) 

Once selected, you can pay the fees to complete your registration and start experiencing the elite services offered by the IIT Alumni Center.

Are you an IIT alumnus? 

Click here to connect with us, find your old friends and make new ones at the IIT AlumniCenter, click here to know more about the different membership plans and fees.

Membership Privileges at the IIT Alumni Center

A place to reconnect

“Old friends, sat on their park bench like bookends

Can you imagine us years from today?

Sharing a park bench quietly”

-- Paul Simon

The IIT Alumni Center makes for a great place to reconnect with old friends, rekindle back bench conversations, relive old memories and now that we have arrived, lend a hand in advancing the world we live in – all amidst the most serene neighbourhoods of Chennai.

The Center aims to create a vibrant and diverse community that promotes interaction between the alumni and faculty of various IITs, as well as between the alumni, faculty and industry. The Center currently has two venues in Chennai – the Club in the City at Abhiramapuram and the upcoming Hub in the Sky at the IIT Madras Research Park.

A place to loosen your tie

At the IIT Alumni Center, you will find a lot of ways to unwind. You can read a book in unperturbed silence at our well-stocked library or play a game of chess with a friend. The Center also hosts a range of activities that include art exhibitions, music appreciation, book clubs, bridge tournaments and seminars to name a few.

Click here to see all the latest happenings at the IIT Alumni Center.

Looking to keep your body in shape? The Center houses a well-equipped gym. From weight training to fitness, the Center offers a range of equipments with which you can stay fit. The Hub in the Sky will offer a spa, professionally built squash courts and a billiards room.

A place to play host in style

A tranquil urban space, the Center is an ideal spot for hosting private events – birthdays, batch get-togethers, family dinners and more. Add a touch of elegance to your board meetings, company seminars and conferences with our state-of-the-art conferencing facilities. Right from posh seating to a spread of support services including in-house catering, your meetings will feel complete at the IIT Alumni Center.

Looking for a bite to eat with a friend or family member? The Center offers you a range of culinary options right from the crispy dosas of Chennai to the sizzling kebabs of Chandigarh.

A place to feel at home

The Hub in the Sky will offer clean, concessional accommodation for outstation and NRI members whereas local members will get free accommodation based on their membership plan. Look forward to a warm and friendly staff that will help you with almost anything – from finding old friends to bringing you fresh towels. The Hub in the Sky will open in 2015.

Memberships open

That’s right! Memberships to the IIT Alumni Center are now open to alumni from the various IITs.

Are you an IIT alumnus?

Click here to connect with us and find your old friends.

Click here to know more about the different membership plans and fees.

Becoming a member of the IIT Alumni Center is really easy:

First, complete and submit the application form

Then, the Screening Committee will meet to consider the application and you will be notified immediately. The entire process typically takes around 3 weeks.

Once chosen you will need to pay the applicable entrance fee and annual fees to complete your registration and start experiencing the elite services offered by the IIT Alumni Center.

Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center, Chennai

Connect. Engage. Give Back

Among many things, we know him famously as the Emperor who fiddled while Rome burned. But, it wasn't until Australian poet Geoffrey Lehmann translated Nero’s literary works that we found out that Nero was in fact, an Emperor with a vision.

In his poem, The New Academy, Nero quips “Education, not entertainment for the masses is the answer!” Similarly, in Notes for a New Civilization, he inked his vision of a modern society into our minds:

“We swim on lapis lazuli days,

and enjoy melons on a terrace

and hearing poetry and plays

our Pax Romana hangs, the white

plume of Mount Aetna over groves

by day, and a red fire at night.”

At the IIT Alumni Center, we share a vision that is no distant from Nero’s.

The Center seeks to connect alumni and faculty from the various IITs; engage in meaningful interactions; and contribute to education and the industry. ‘Club in the City’ located in Abhiramapuram, Chennai has been an ideal venue to accomplish this.

Club in the City

A place of tranquillity, ‘Club in the City’ hosts an extraordinary array of events – batch get-togethers, private events, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, etc. – and is also a perfect spot to relax with friends and family. Club in the City offers a host of world-class facilities listed below:

Dining

Savour a range of Indian and global delicacies at our stylish indoor restaurant. Feeling outdoorsy? Enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee and sink in the serenity of our outdoor café.

Dining, Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center, Chennai

Outdoor dining

Sports and fitness

Sweat it out at our well-equipped gym complete with a range of modern fitness equipments including treadmills, cycles, elliptical trainers and more. ‘Club in the City’ also organizes outdoor games such as cricket and tennis.

Gym, Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center

Library

If you think brains are sexier than brawn, we have a well-stocked library just for you. The library is also the meeting place for Bibliothek, the official book reading club of the IIT Alumni Center. Looking to spar with a friend? You can do it over a game of scrabble or chess.

Library, Club in the City

Conferencing

Make your office meetings classier with our state-of-the-art conferencing facilities. Our well-lit conference room features an overhead projector, elegant seating and a dynamic sound system. ‘Club in the City’ also offers catering services that make your meetings complete.

 View more pictures of Club in the City here.

Conference, Club in the City, IIT Alumni Center, Chennai

Memberships open!

For club bookings, call us at (044) - 4553-4441 / 4553-4409.

To enquire about or apply for membership, click here.

Visit us: www.iitalumnicenter.org

Existentialism in the Blogosphere

The Genesis of the IIT Alumni Center Blog

Jean-Paul Sartre in his essay Existentialism & Humanism harped on the now infamous thought: “existence precedes essence.” In the essay, Sartre explained that there is no 'essential' human nature, and that your nature or personality is what you choose it to be.

We are at least seventy years into the future since Sartre orated and wrote about existentialism. But, the thought is very much alive, although unseen.

If you’re wondering what existentialism has in connection to the blogosphere, here it is: much like human nature, even the nature of a blog is what we choose it to be. One may begin a food blog, and halfway through switch over to home keeping or even child care.

The IITAC Blog – this blog – is another informative venue of communication for the IIT Alumni Center, which serves as an ideal destination for active interaction between the IIT alumni, faculty, industry, researchers and entrepreneurs. The Center also makes for a perfect venue to host a range of events from batch get-togethers to private parties, business conferences, etc.

The blog will serve as a confluence of all club activities, attractions and more, be it educational or entertaining.

The IITAC Venues

Currently, the Center comprises of the City Club in Abhiramapuram and the upcoming Hub at the IIT Madras Research Park.

The IITAC encompasses a diverse member network and aims to develop a vibrant community that is committed to contributing to the development of educational institutes and industry in Chennai.

Memberships Open!

Membership is open to alumni and faculty from all the IITs, and by invitation to corporates and professionals from different walks of life.

For club bookings, call us at (044) - 4553-4441 / 4553-4409.

To enquire about or apply for membership, click here.

Visit us: www.iitalumnicenter.org