Students of the department of public administration at Utkal University co-ordinated a seminar on consumer justice, market and globalisation on February 13 and 14. Faculty members from various colleges and universities and PhD scholars presented papers on the problems faced by consumers and the role of media in spreading consumer awareness. Leon Miller, a professor at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, interacted with the students and delivered a talk on the issue.
Saraswati Puja
Colleges and universities across the state celebrated Saraswati Puja with grandeur. Students of Dhauli College of Art and Crafts created a 10-ft idol of the goddess. The idol was crafted using techniques of dhokra casting. Hostel boarders of Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, also organised a cultural event on the occasion. Many other colleges staged plays and conducted fashion shows. Colourful puja mandaps were set up at engineering colleges as well.
Tips for scholars
The second edition of Research Scholars’ Week was hosted at National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, from February 12 to 14. The event gave research scholars an opportunity to showcase their research work through poster presentations. Faculty members A. M. Srivastava and Rudra Pratap highlighted recent trends in research and innovation. A. M. Srivastava spoke on the importance of research towards the well being of human society. Rudra Pratap spoke on “Turning Science into Technology: A Logical Path of Scientific Research.”
Tech fest
Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology at Sarang in Dhenkanal district organised a fest from February 11 to 14. Events, such as quiz and technical games and sports, were a part of the festival. A ramp show and cultural programmes were also hosted. The event was co-ordinated by the pre-final students of the institute. Sanjay Das Burma, the state minister of employment, technical education and training, attended the event and interacted with the students. DJ Sareen and choreographer Andrew Wills enthralled the audience with their lively beats. Bollywood music composer and singer Harshit Saxena made the audience groove with his voice.
Environment talks
A talk on biodiversity and conservation was recently organised at Central University of Odisha. Shailabala Padhy, director of the centre for environment studies, government of Odisha, delivered the talk. Highlighting the importance of biodiversity, she stressed on the culture of seaweeds for sequestration of carbon dioxide , release of oxygen and a source of livelihood to the rural poor. She also spoke on phytoremediation of red-mud pond by algal growth that is an example of waste to wealth. The students discussed about how biodiversity research should not be confined to the laboratories and its benefits must reach the common man and help their livelihood and protection of
nature.
Every drop counts
International Management Institute, Bhubaneswar, organised a blood donation camp on its campus on February 16. Along with students, faculty and staff members of the institute, a number of students from Bimtech and local residents also donated blood. A total of 51 units of blood were collected in the camp. Officials from Odisha State Blood Bank spoke to the donors about the importance of blood donation. A blood donation camp was also organised by the members of Swabhiman.
Film screening
A film on active citizenship was screened at Raja Madhusudan Dev Degree College at Patia on February 16. The film highlighted how active citizenship can change the landscape of a nation and how it has become the need of the time. Principal Prashant Rout spoke on the role of citizenship and urged the students to do their bit in nation building. After the screening, the students conducted a discussion on books and films that inspire global citizenship. The students of Odia department presented papers on the topic.
Sports team
A 12-member handball team from Berhampur University has left for Varanasi to take part in the Eastern Zonal Inter-University Championship at Banaras Hindu University. The university’s handball team has taken part in a number of competitions across the country winning several titles.