A number of universities across the state observed Freedom Fortnight from August 9 to August 23. The Freedom Fortnight, or Azadi 70-Yaad Karo Kurbani, is a national campaign promoted by the Union government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to create and spread awareness about the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters. Students organised a number of activities during the fortnight at various government and private varsities. Several institutions witnessed mass songs on the concluding day.

Utkal University students engaged in writing  graffiti, recited poems, sang patriotic songs and took part in painting exhibitions based on the freedom struggle. The Azadi 70 event at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University included felicitation of eminent freedom fighters, a candlelight march at midnight on August 14 and a colourful cultural presentation organised to mark Independence Day. The students also visited the birthplaces of icons of the freedom movement. Central University of Odisha students planted around 13,000 saplings on their campus. 

Seminar on chip tech

Students of the department of Computer Science Engineering at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, hosted a seminar on the latest developments in chip technology on August 22. The topic of the seminar was “A Thermal Driven Genetic Algorithm for Three Dimensional Network-on-Chip System.” It elaborately dealt with how a genetic algorithm would impact the chip system’s three-dimensional network. Experts spoke about different aspects of developments taking place in this particular field. The seminar witnessed tech savvy students brainstorming about its pros and cons.

Philosophy talk

Students of Utkal University’s postgraduate philosophy department organised a seminar on the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl on August 23. During the seminar, the head of the department delivered a lecture on the topic and explained how the German philosopher’s latest methodology in phenomenology has opened new vistas in the field of continental philosophy. The students spoke about various frontiers of existentialism, hermeneutics and deconstruction associated with the concept. A number of faculty members and research scholars also took part in the event. A question-and-answer session was also held.

Agri conclave

RMAX, the student group of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), hosted its annual agricultural conclave, Abhivyakti, on August 21. The first session was aimed at addressing the topic of how third parties could improve corporate social responsibility (CSR) processes, while the second session discussed tapping opportunities at the bottom of the pyramid in rural markets. A number of experts spoke on issues such as the increasing involvement of MBA graduates in non-profit organisations because of CSR and how lack of basic infrastructure needed to be addressed to tap the massive rural market in our country. The speeches were followed by an interactive session with the students. 

Science exhibition

Remuna College, Balasore organised an intercollegiate science exhibition on campus last week. Around 40 projects made by 80 students from several of the district colleges were displayed at the exhibition. The models dealt with a variety of subjects such as agriculture, energy conservation, solar energy, hydropower station, rainwater harvesting, tsunami alert and information system, earthquake alarm and automatic streetlights controller among others. The aim of the exhibition was to identify and nurture innovative scientific ideas among students in the region. Emami Paper Mills managing director M.B.S. Nair attended the event as chief guest. He reviewed the projects and encouraged the participants to develop innovative projects that could be utilised for the betterment of society.  

Birth anniversary

Students of Gangadhar Meher University recently hosted a meeting to celebrate the birth anniversary of poet Gangadhar Meher. Eminent litterateur Krushna Keshaba Sarangi was the chief speaker at the meeting. He spoke about the variety in Meher’s writings and emphasised how science found a suitable place in most of his literary works. A number of literary competitions were held to mark the event. At the end of the meeting, trophies were given away to those who had won the competitions.

Art workshop

The Government College of Art and Crafts, Khallikote, hosted a multicolour woodcut print workshop from August 17 to 24. At the workshop organised by the regional centre of the Lalit Kala Akdemi, students got an insight into the history and techniques of the concept and received guidance from experts on materials and studio practices and step-by-step demonstrations. The students were also taught how multiple colours could be printed by keying the paper to a frame around the woodblocks. A diverse collection of prints by leading contemporary artists was shown to the students, who also created frames using their imagination.

Orientation event

Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University welcomed students eager to make a mark in the hospitality and tourism industry to a three-day orientation programme with experts urging them to work hard to find their feet in a profession with immense prospects. The event was held for students who have taken admission in different courses in the varsity’s School of Hotel Management. The chief guest at the event, vice-president, Crown Hotel, Bhubaneswar, Abhignan Talukdar, spoke about his personal experiences while urging the students to be passionate about the profession they had chosen. Other faculty members also addressed the students.