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

2014 – A Look Back

Countless

- Words, paragraphs and pages read

- Money saving tips and tricks shared

- Contracts and bids made

- Colours and images observed

2014 has been a landmark year for us at the IIT Alumni Center. Two of our popular events – the Open Pairs bridge tournament and the Women only Workshop – were launched. PALS returned for another enlightening year of industry education enhancement. Bibliothek, our official book club, turned two.

Let’s take a look back at the exciting year that’s gone by.

The Year of the Bookworm

It was a very busy year for members of Bibliothek, the official book club of the IIT Alumni Center. From reading an intellectual murder mystery set in the 14th century to experiencing Santiago’s quest in catching the giant marlin, members read a range of books from timeless literature to contemporary fiction. 

Some of the books read include: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Poems of Love and War by A K Ramanujam and 14 Stories That Inspired Satyajit Ray by Bhaskar Chattopadhyay. Bibliothek invited Timeri Murari, to read from his new book, The Taliban Cricket Club.

Earlier this year, Bibliothek held Super Saturday to celebrate its second anniversary. The day which began with a book fair, also had a fun quiz for the grown-ups.

Poems of Love and War by A K Ramanujam

A Taste of Fine Arts

Impressions, the art club of the IIT Alumni Center celebrated Women's Day with an art and sculpture exhibition. Held at the Club in the City, the exhibition featured the works of Thara Ganesan, Kamla Ravikumar and Isaiarasi. The central theme for the exhibition was yoga and meditation. Earlier this year, Impressions hosted an interactive workshop on jazz music which was conducted by renowned jazz musician, Madhav Chari. 

De-stress 101

The IIT Alumni Center invited Murli Menon, author and ZeNLP coach to share several simple and effective stress management techniques. The Center also hosted a revitalizing session on Tai Chi and Qigong, conducted by Tai Chi master, Ranga Rao. 

Author and ZeNLP coach, Murli Menon gave a seminar on stress management

Call. Bid. Respond. Declare

A regular feature, the Open Pairs bridge tournament is a widely participated event which has been recognized by the Chennai Bridge Association and included in the City Bridge Calendar. The tournament takes place in the trendy indoors and the serene outdoors. Winners and runners-up are awarded with cash prizes.

Celebrating the Spirit of Childhood

One of 2014’s most anticipated club events was Children’s Day, which was celebrated with great delight and joy at the Club in the City. The day saw a range of fun activities and games from chess to slow cycling, drawing competitions and origami workshops.

Children's Day was celebrated with a range of fun activities including a drawing competition

Personal Finance Workshops
On April 9th, 2014, the IIT Alumni Center played host to the first of many Women only Workshops. Themed on personal finance, WoW continues to see enthusiastic participation and is conducted by member Renu Maheshwari, who is a SEBI-registered financial advisor. The two-hour coaching session explores the world of finance and on money behavioural analysis.

Enhancing Engineering Education

The Pan-IIT Alumni Series, popularly known as PALS turned 4 in 2014. From industry visits to department visits, from campus lectures to education seminars, PALS-4 showcased important changes in today’s engineering education and industry.

PALS-4 conducted a seminar discussing various education enhancement programs

...And the Future

2015, much like its predecessor, will be an active year for the members of the IIT Alumni Center. There are more lessons on saving wisely, more engrossing books to read, more mind-boggling bridge to be played, and more quality time to spend with your buddies.

The Center’s second venue, the Hub in the Sky will also open in 2015. Located at the prestigious IIT Madras Research Park, the Hub will offer more elite facilities such as a billiards room, squash court, stylish work spaces and conference rooms, etc. 

Contemporary Turkish playwright and novelist, Mehmet Murat ildan once quipped "New Year's most glorious light is sweet hope.” We at the IIT Alumni Center are looking to leave the light on throughout 2015.

And on that note, we wish you all a happy and optimistic New Year!

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.

Hub in the Sky - A glance at the upcoming venue of the IITAlumni Center

An artist's impression of the IITM Research Park building which will also house the Hub in the sky

"Picture yourself in a boat on a river

With tangerine trees and marmalade skies"

-- The Beatles

The immortal opening lines of what is arguably one of the most famous and influential songs go hand-in-hand with what the Hub in the Sky seeks to offer you.

An oasis of calm in the city, the Hub is located at the prestigious IIT Madras Research Park which has been designed by renowned architect, Hafeez Contractor is scheduled to open in 2015.

A place to network

The Hub is more than just a social club. It’s a forum for close interaction between the IIT alumni, faculty, industry, researchers and entrepreneurs. Together, the facilities and events seek to provide opportunities to meet old friends, make new ones as well as contribute to education and industry in and around Chennai.

The Hub in the Sky will offer two floors of elite facilities and many exclusive services to the members of the IIT Alumni Center. These include:

Rooftop facilities 

Gather your friends and host an epic get-together at our atmospheric rooftop. It will also make for an ideal venue to host family and corporate parties. Besides, we will assist you with the preparations, making it a “walk in the park” for you.

Business Services

An office away from office, the Hub will offer you a wide range of business services including uninterrupted WiFi connectivity.

Fine Dining 

At our indoor fine dining restaurant, you will be treated to a delectable variety of dishes from around the world.

Residential Suites 

The Hub will also offer members the option to enjoy comfortable, concessional accommodation at our welcoming residential suites.

Conference facilities

Add more zing to your business meetings and conferences by hosting them at the Hub. You will be treated to best-in-class facilities at our well-equipped meeting rooms including elegant seating, overhead projection and dynamic audio system. Make your meetings complete with our in-house catering services.

Library

From 19th century classics to today’s contemporary reading, the library will offer a wide range of fiction and non-fiction material. What’s more? You can also take part in Bibliothek, the official book club of the IIT Alumni Center.

Health and fitness 

Looking to stay in shape? 

The Hub will house a well-equipped gym an invigorating spa for you to tone your body and relax your soul.

Sports and games

The Hub in the Sky houses two professionally built squash courts and a billiards room. Apart from these, the Hub will also offer a range of indoor games from Chess to Scrabble and more.

Lobby of the Hub in the Sky

Fine dining 

A suite at Hub in the Sky

Conference facility 

Spa at Hub in the Sky

The Gym

Billiards at Hub in the Sky

Memberships open

Becoming a member of the IIT Alumni Center is easy and we're here to guide you through the process. Membership is open to alumni and faculty from all the IITs across India.  To know more about membership benefits, types and acceptance process click here

To enquire about or apply for membership, click here