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

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