The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A robust line-up for ‘Shaastra’

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Monday, Sep 08, 2008
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A robust line-up for ‘Shaastra’

Special Correspondent

IIT-Madras techfest will begin on October 1

The student-organised event will feature workshops and design challenges
9 of 13 “socially relevant" technology projects undertaken by students will be on display

CHENNAI: A Renault-Nissan F1 car, an Arjun tank, two Nobel laureates (over videoconference), Rajya Sabha Member Kanimozhi, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and a few thousand students are expected to participate at the IIT-Madras techfest, ‘Shaastra,’ this year.

Sayan Ganguly, secretary for co-curricular affairs, who is in charge of the event, said on Saturday that the Rs. 93-lakh event would also feature workshops and design challenges and would display 9 of 13 “socially relevant and cutting-edge technology” projects undertaken by students at the Centre for Innovation at a cost of Rs. 30 lakh. “Shaastra is the only student-organised event in the world that has an ISO 9001:2000 certification, and the quality has been maintained all these years. This year we are making a quantum jump in the scale of the events, and also in our vision,” Mr. Ganguly said.

“The Golden Design Challenges are aimed at developing solutions and prototype implementation for large-scale problems such as an integrated transport for Chennai and a cheap and efficient water filter.”

The Industrial Open House will bring cutting-edge technology from industry, while the Golden Jubilee Conclave will bring together academics, policymakers, politicians and students together to discuss ideas on the theme of ‘An emerging India for the 21st century.’ The five-day event will begin on October 1 on the IIT-Madras campus.

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