Members of the youth group Prayaash recently hosted their flagship project titled Winter Campaign for the third consecutive year. They distributed around 200 blankets to 95 families in and around the slums of Bhubaneswar that they had collected from people in various apartments and residential homes. Their aim is to inculcate compassion for the underprivileged by providing them new blankets to counter the upcoming winter season. The members of the group belong to various colleges and universities in the cities of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Balangir. They will host the initiative in other parts of the state in the next few weeks. 

Robotics course

The department of mechanical engineering of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, organised a short-term course on Application of Robotics and Mechatronics from November 18 to 20. The students were elaborated on the evolution of mechatronics and robotics system, which can perform complex functions with advanced control. Over 60 participants from various institutes, along with the NIT students, took part in the course. Topics such as soft computing, pneumatics, electro pneumatics systems and mechatronics were discussed. Also, discussions on expert systems and electro hydraulic systems were part of the 30-hour course, which included lectures and class assignments. 

Rights event

The Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, organised a workshop on Intellectual Property Rights in Electronics and IT Sector, along with the department of electronics and information technology of the Centre. In the keynote address, the National Research and Development Corporation’s deputy manager (IPR) Bijaya Kumar Sahu emphasised the role of IP in the university system and gave a few examples of university IP commercialisation. The varsity will shortly establish an intellectual property rights cell to evaluate the patentable inventions generated from the institution. Around 150 students from various schools of the varsity took part in the workshop to discuss ways to patent their innovations.

Tech chapter

The Institution of Engineering and Technology, one of the world's oldest and largest bodies working for the development of engineering and technology across the globe, launched its students' chapter at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) University in the presence of the institute’s international operations head Ian Mercer on Tuesday. The 144-year-old institute partners with institutions spreading knowledge and providing cutting edge technology to the students. Pointing out that there was an acute shortage of engineers in the world, Mercer said the issue had to be addressed and urged the varsity students to come up with new ideas to add value to what they were learning. The student chapter at the varsity was the 64th in India.

Press day

The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, celebrated National Press Day on November 16. Speaking on the occasion, Odia fortnightly Samadrusti’s editor Sudhir Pattnaik said the Press Council of India must reinvent itself to be relevant in a digital age, where convergence was the buzzword. He delivered a lecture on press council in a digital era hosted by the institute, along with the Dhenkanal District Journalists’ Association. The silver jubilee logo of IIMC, Dhenkanal, was also released on the occasion. The institute, which was set up in August 1993, will celebrate its silver jubilee from next year. Institute head Mrinal Chatterjee informed about the commemoration plans, which would include publication of books and monographs and setting up of a community radio station on the campus.

Lecture on ban

Gangadhar Meher University students attended a lecture on The Economics of Ban, recently organised at the varsity. Retired IAS and visiting professor at Harvard University, Anup Kumar Pujari, who is also an alumnus of the varsity's economics department, delivered the lecture. The talk threw light on a number of issues relating to ban on currencies in India and its economic implications. Pujari also hosted a question-and-answer round, where the students’ queries were answered. The varsity’s debating society The Quest organised the lecture. Manu dignitaries also attended the talk, which was presided over by vice-chancellor S.S. Rath.

Awareness sessions

The National Service Scheme students of Laxmikanta College recently organised an awareness programme to prevent witch-hunting in Mayurbhanj district. The students visited several schools, including the residential ones at Astabeda, Chakidi and Brahmangaon, and conducted awareness sessions to remove the misconception, superstition and fear that are in the minds of people about witches, witchcraft and black magic. They also gave scientific lessons behind certain age-old beliefs surrounding witchcraft. An awareness-oriented short film, I am not a witch, made by the district administration was shown to the students. The volunteers, programme officer and other health and social workers took part in the programmes.

Clean drive

On the occasion of Kartik purnima, the students of Dhauli College of Art and Crafts, in association with a Delhi-based social organisaton Asra, conducted a cleanliness drive at the Bindusagar tank in Lingaraj Temple. The aim was to clean the water of pollutants left by sailing miniature boats to observe the rich maritime glory of Odisha in the past known as Boita bandana. Apart from cleaning the water body, the students also cleaned the nearby areas of the lake.