V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT-Madras, at the press conference held on Monday.
| Photo Credit: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN
Shaastra 2025, the technical festival of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M), which will be held from January 3 to 7, is expected to attract around 1.25 lakh participants to the campus. The 26th edition will feature 80 contests and 130 stalls, including those set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Navy, and the Army, said V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT-M.
On the first two days, the institute will host an open house, for which over 55,000 participants have registered, Mr. Kamakoti told mediapersons here on Monday. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) is collaborating with the institute for this year’s festival. Though the Naval Department of the IIT-M does the maximum number of consultancies, very few students opt for the discipline, Mr. Kamakoti said.
NIOT director Balaji Ramakrishnan recalled that 31 years ago, NIOT began functioning at IIT-M, and this collaboration was like a homecoming. Discussing the NIOT’s project, he said: “We have the capability to demonstrate any technology concerning the ocean. We are developing a manned submarine that can travel 6,000 m below sea level. We are sending a woman scientist (on the mission). We want to know how life thrives in the subpar condition in the depths.”
Sathyanarayana Gummadi, IIT-M dean (students), said the IIT-M Research Park was also involved in organising the fest this year. The theme for this year is ‘Fractal Frontiers’. Special contests that will be held include Aerial Robotic Challenge, RoboSoccer, where custom-built robots will compete in soccer games, Algo Trading, which will test students’ coding and financial acumen, and Petri Dish Challenge, where students will have to identify the bacteria provided to them.
On the first three days, an international research conference exploring the rapid integration of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and robotics in revolutionising industries under the theme ‘Smart Manufacturing’ will be held. NIOT and Temenos, a fintech company, will be the sponsors. A three-day ‘Future Cities’ summit, which focuses on urban planning, sustainability, energy, and advanced technologies, has been planned. It will feature panels and hands-on demonstrations by start-ups from the research park, besides laboratory tours and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
Students can enjoy performances by Karan Kanchan, international DJ Camilla, and stand-up comedian Gurleen Pannu. Nambi Narayanan, aerospace scientist, Ruchira Kamboj, former Permanent Ambassador of India to the United Nations, and mathematician Sujatha Ramadorai will deliver special lectures.
The Hindu is the media partner for Shaastra 2025.
Published – December 30, 2024 07:22 pm IST
