Category Archives: Education

Solarsis turns IIT Madras rooftop solar and cool

Education, Science & Technologies

Hyderabad :

In one of its kind research and utility initiative by Hyderabad based Solarsis has installed a unique rooftop Solar PV System on the rooftop of the IIT Madras.

The solar PV system is a smartly designed project with various technologies in modules and inverters. The solar plant is installed on top of the 50 years old Electrical Sciences Block at IIT-Madras which aims to build 1MW solar on top their existing buildings.

Venkat Rajaraman, CEO, Solarsis said the structures is unique as they are non-penetrating type, elevated with a minimum clearance of 8 feet above the roof, designed to withstand high wind zone of the Chennai coastal region.

The plant also brings high degree of reliability and protection to enable to smooth interaction with the grid.

“IIT always being an early advocate of promising technologies like solar and we are doing our best to contribute to some key challenges in solar adaptability through a smart grid controller,” says Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, professor in the Electrical Engineering Department. “We plan to test Smart Controller for solar, which is currently being designed by IITM, with the rooftop solar plant. The elevated structures ensure that we continue to use the roof as before for our regular use.”

The IIT Madras Solarsis rooftop solar plant is a mix of Mono-crystalline, Poly-crystalline, High efficiency Poly-crystalline (with >19 percent module efficiency) and CIGS thin-film modules in which both string and central inverters of various capacities are used. The 90KW solar plant will generate 1.5 lakh units per annum and helps offset 90 tons of carbon dioxide.

source: http://www.ciol.com / CIOL / Home> ESDM / by CIOL Bureau / Wednesday – November 06th, 2013

Septuagenarian completes thesis, to get doctorate soon

Amazing Feats, Education

At the age of 75, many choose to take rest at home or spend time with their grandchildren. But a retired government college principal’s determination drove him to complete his PhD research and submit the thesis. His research work was accepted in the public viva-voce held on Thursday and the examiners’ committee has recommended it to Bharathiar University for the award of PhD degree to the elderly man.

N M Viswanathan from Nathakattu Valasu near Kavindapadi in Erode, born on July 15, 1939, pursued his BA in Economics at Chikkaiah Naicker College in Erode and completed his masters at National College, Tiruchy in 1962. He joined as a lecturer in Government Arts College, Ooty in 1964 and in the year 1996 he got promoted to the post of the principal of Government Arts College, Rasipuram. He then became the principal of Government Arts Colleges in Salem, Coimbatore, and retired from service in 1997.

After retirement, he planned to do PhD research and chose to work on ‘A study on the productivity of tea in Tamil Nadu with special reference to the Nilgiris district’. His thesis was evaluated by two foreign examiners and an Indian examiner. The pubic viva-voce was held at Government Arts College, Coimbatore, on Thursday, with Pudukottai Government Arts and Science College Principal J Govindadass as external examiner.

“I decided to get a PhD degree, not for any monetary benefit or career advancement, but because of interest. I chose this topic as I wanted to study the socio-economic condition of a large number of small tea growers in the Nilgiris,” Viswanathan told Express.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Students / by Express News Service – Coimbatore / November 08th, 2013

Indo-German Mathematics Workshop conducted

Education

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German professors of Mathematics Martin Frank and Jorg Kuhnert spoke about mathematical applications in Radiotherapy and Fluid Flow at Alpha College of Engineering, Thirumazhisai, Chennai, which organised an Indo-German workshop on ‘Applied Mathematics in Engineering & Industry’.

The programme received wide participation from people including representatives from the ICF, Southern Railway and the Defence.

Martin Frank from MathCCES, RWTH Aachen University gave a presentation on

‘Second Order Staggered Grid Method for Radiative Transfer Application in Radio Therapy’.

Formerly from Stanford University and currently Head-Research and Development, Alpha College of Engineering, Rakesh Nigam spoke on ‘Spectral Face Clustering’.

Jorg Kuhnert, explained the movement of fluid dynamics using Mesh Free Numerical methods based on Lagrange’s Equations.

Presiding over the programme, chairperson of the Alpha Group of Institutions Dr Grace George outlined the work undertaken by the Research and Development Cell and Innovation Center of the institution.

Director of the College Dr M S Mathews spearheads these initiatives.

Dr Nigamhas been guiding many students on research publications at the Alpha Group.

Dr Mathews addressed the gathering in German and spoke of the historical tradition of the Indo-German partnership.

Principals of the Alpha Group of Institutions, faculty members of mathematics from colleges and postgraduate students attended the programme.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Student / by Express News Service – Chennai / November 01st, 2013

Educationist Manisundaram dies aged 87

Education, Leaders

Veteran educationist P S Manisundaram, who fine-tuned engineering syllabus in South India, died at Trichy last week.
He was 87 and is survived by wife and six children.
Manisundaram was born in Burma (now Myanmar) and qualified as a civil engineer from the Nova Scotia University Canada in 1958. He began as a lecturer at the Alagappa University in Karaikudi town in Sivaganga district where he became the youngest principal at the age of 33.
In 1963, he joined the Regional Engineering College (REC) when it was set up in Trichy and soon became its principal, a post he held for 18 years. He also became the vice-chancellor of the Bharathidasan University in Trichy set up in 1982.
During his tenure he updated the syllabus, improved teaching standards and set a record for entering the maximum number of students to write GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and TOEFL ( Test of English and Foreign Languages) that got them careers abroad.
In 1984, he set up the Bharathidasan Institute of Management that is today a benchmark in business studies.

source: http://www.gulf-times.com / Gulf Times / Home> International> India> Tamil Nadu Round Up / by Umaima Shafiq / November 03rd, 2013

Marketing fest at Great Lakes

Education

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai is organising EMergeon ’13, a business management fest focussing on the theme ‘Dawn of New Light – Resurgence of Emerging Markets’ on 8 November. This event is an initiative of the first batch of students from the institute’s two-year full time postgraduate diploma.

The objective of the fest is to generate ideas at the primary level among B-School students to focus on assessing the future of emerging economies market.

The fest will host various events on Marketing, Finance, HR and Operations like Brand ‘Em Up, EMbound Logistricks,  EMvestors and  Human EMpact. In addition, the fest will host a cultural extravaganza titled BANDwidth, which will have students from other premier B-Schools across the country such as IIMs, ISB, IIFT, IITs, SP Jain and XLRI, participating in the fest. The theme of the fest is focused towards doing business in the emerging market countries.

(The event will be held at the Dr Bala V Balachandar Campus, Great Lakes Institute of Management, East Coast Road, Near Mahabalipuram from 9.30 am.)

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / November 06th, 2013

IIT-M alumnus dean of Nanyang Business School

Education, Leaders, World Opinion
RaviKumarCF09nov2013
Chennai:
An IIT-M alumnus professor,  Ravi Kumar, 61, has been appointed the dean of the Nanyang Business School (NBS) in Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Ravi Kumar comes from the University of Southern California’s Marshall Business School, where he held several key leadership positions, including that of Vice-Dean for international programmes and Vice-Dean for graduate programmes. The university in its press release on Tuesday described Kumar as ‘an academic heavyweight with a good blend of east-west experience’.
The release quoted Kumar, “NTU has an ambitious leadership that has been consistently building its brand worldwide. As one of the pillars of the university, the Nanyang Business School has a great reputation for thought leadership.”
His appointment came after a comprehensive review of international candidates by a six-member search committee, led by Insead professor Gabriel Hawawini for two years.
Previously, Kumar served as the Dean of the College of Business at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. He introduced reforms that saw the Korean college break into the top 100 of the Financial Times global MBA rankings.
On his East-West experience, Kumar said, “Maybe it has to do with the Confucian tradition or Asian thinking; Korean students thirst for learning, work very hard to succeed in being educated and really prize education, and their professors. But they are also less likely to question their professors’ ideas or come up with alternative viewpoints. The non-Asian students in the US, however, have that native irreverence and vitality, so they are very happy to question anything and everything the professors say!”
Prof Kumar, the ardent champion of business education feels most proud when some of his former students have become successful executives of commercial and non-profit companies. “As an educator, nothing matters more than helping your students to realise their potential and know they have made it good,” he said.
A table tennis champion and player for the IIT-M in his young days, Kumar received his Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from the institute in 1974. He holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences Department at North western University.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / June 19th, 2013

Former President Kalam to grace Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology’s convocation

Education, Leaders, Science & Technologies

Allahabad :

Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad (MNNIT-Allahabad), is poised to hold its 10th Annual Convocation-2013 on Thursday at the Rajiv Gandhi MP Hall Complex. The occasion will be graced by former President APJ Abdul Kalam as the chief guest while Prof VK Saraswat, chairman, Board of Governors, would preside over the function.

Speaking to newspersons on Wednesday, director, MNNIT, Prof P Chakravorty, said that during the convocation, 693 BTech, 77 MBA, 72 MCA, 9 MSc, 6 MSW, 404 MTech and 34 PhD students will be awarded degrees. For academic session 2012-13, 23 gold medals will be awarded to postgraduate students and nine to the undergraduate students.

Further, 18 sponsored gold medals are to be awarded across various academic programmes. This is in addition to the medals to be awarded to the toppers of the first, second, third and fourth years of undergraduate programs.

The coveted and prestigious Institute Gold Medal will be awarded to Shobit Srivastava of BTech (Computer Science & Engineering) for standing first amongst students of all branches of the Institute in the Final Year Examination of 2013. He will also receive a gold medal for standing First in BTech (Computer Science & Engineering) Final Year Examination 2013.

Archan Mudwel of Mechanical Engineering will be awarded the gold medal for standing first at BTech third year examination 2013, while Tanu Agrawal and Priyanshu Srivastava, both of Computer Science & Engineering, will be awarded gold medals for standing first in the second and first year examination 2013, respectively.

He said that the institute has continued to take large strides in its mission of academic excellence. In 2012, 66 new faculty members were inducted in various departments. This has taken the total faculty strength to 199, with 50 professors, 36 associate professors and 113 assistant professors.

During academic session 2013-2014, 1,485 students were admitted for various programs of BTech, MBA, MCA, MSc, MSW, MTech and Ph.D, out of which 92 students are from other countries.

In a new initiative, the institute has organized 22 Short Term Training Programs, Faculty Development Programs and Workshops during 2012-2013. Under the TEQIP II program, the Institute has been sanctioned an amount of Rs 12.5 crores towards implementation of several schemes such as innovative research, curriculum development, educational tours, training programs, networking, procurement of equipments, purchase of books, international visits and laboratory upgradation.

The Institute has maintained its excellent record of placements up to 85% during the session with ongoing placements of post graduate students also.

In terms of providing technical assistance to industries, government organizations, the institute has offered more than 290 testing and consultancy activities during the financial year 2012-2013. Altogether 40 research projects, with total sanctioned amount exceeding Rs 10.91 crores have also been sanctioned from various funding agencies, notably DRDO, DAE, ICSSR, DST, CSIR, UGC, DBT and UPPCB.

The Institute is looking at further initiatives towards renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, reusage and recycling of waste water, disaster management and energy conservation as its focus in coming years, he added.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad> Mnnit / TNN / October 31st, 2013

Learn winning strategies at MMA convention on Oct 25, 26

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education

Chennai :

Want to make ‘winning’ a habit? Block your calendar on October 25 and 26 to attend the 12th All-India Management Students’ Convention organised by Madras Management Association, in association with the University of Madras. This year’s theme for the convention is ‘Winning Strategies – how to make winning a habit’.

The convention will provide an insight into the strategies of winners and draw lessons for young, aspiring managers to understand the determinants of success. The convention will also focus on inspired learning from competitive professions such as sports, politics, media, cinema and the battlefield. The finale of various on-going events such as Chanakya – The Mastermind (best management student of the year), paper presentation, business plan, the big debate and management quiz will also take place during the convention. Around 300 management students from various institutions are expected to attend the event. The convention will take place at the Centenary Auditorium of University of Madras.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home /  The Hindu Bureau / Chennai – October 23rd, 2013

Recent Studies from C. Abdul Hakeem College Add New Data to Aeromonas hydrophila

Education, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Researchers detail new data in Proteobacteria. According to news reporting from Tamil Nadu, India, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Nanosized materials have been an important subject in basic and applied sciences. A novel, low-cost, green and reproducible bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila mediated biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) was reported.”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from C. Abdul Hakeem College, “The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, XRD, AFM and FESEM with EDX. FTIR showed characteristic bands (1643 and 3430 cm(-1)) finds the role of carboxyl group OH stretching amine NH stretch in the formation of TiO2 NPs. The XRD spectrum confirmed that the synthesized TiO2 NPs were in the form of nanocrystals, as evidenced by the peaks at 2? values of 27.47°, 31.77°, 36.11°, 41.25°, 54.39°, 56.64° and 69.54° were identified as 110, 100, 101, 111, 211, 220 and 301 reflections, respectively. The crystallite sizes were calculated using Scherrer’s formula applied to the major intense peaks and found to be the size of 40.50 nm. The morphological characterization was analyzed by FESEM and the analysis showed the NPs smooth shaped, spherical and uneven. GC-MS analysis showed the main compounds found in A. hydrophila were uric acid (2.95%), glycyl-L-glutamic acid (6.90%), glycyl-L-proline (74.41%) and L-Leucyl-D-leucine (15.74%). The potential glycyl-L-proline could have played an important role as a capping agent. A possible mechanism for the biosynthesis of TiO2 NPs has been proposed.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “The antibacterial activity of the synthesized TiO2 NPs was assessed by well diffusion method toward A. hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Enterococcus faecalis and showed effective inhibitory activity against S. aureus (33 mm) and S. pyogenes (31 mm).”

For more information on this research see: Biological approach to synthesize TiO2 nanoparticles using Aeromonas hydrophila and its antibacterial activity. Spectrochimica Acta Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2013;107():82-9 (see also Proteobacteria ).

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting C. Jayaseelan, Unit of Nano technology and Bioactive Natural Products, Post Graduate and Research Dept. of Zoology, C Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam, Vellore 632 509, Tamil Nadu, India. Additional authors for this research include A.A. Rahuman, S.M. Roopan, A.V. Kirthi, J. Venkatesan, S.K. Kim, M. Iyappan and C. Siva.

Keywords for this news article include: Asia, India, Tamil Nadu, Nanoparticle, Aeromonadaceae, Nanotechnology, Proteobacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Emerging Technologies, Gram Negative Bacteria.

source: http://www.hispanicbusiness.com / Hispanic Business.com / Home> News> News Column / October 29th, 201 3 /by a News Reporter – Staff New Editor at Life Sciences Weekly

Book fair at Ambur college starts today

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Mazharul Uloom College in Ambur is hosting a two-day book fair on its campus beginning October 24.

According to the Principal Dr Adil Ahmed, the fair is being organised under the aegis of the departments of English and Tamil.

Abdul Razak, professor of Tamil from the New College in Chennai, and noted lyricist Yugabharathi would be the chief guest during the inauguration of the fair.

Poet Yazhan Adi, writer Azhigiya Periyavan and industrialist Sivakumar would be the chief guests during the valediction of the book fair.

A book titled Thaayumanavan written by the head of the English department A S Mohamed Rafi will be released at the fair, the principal said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Student / by Express News Service – Vellore / October 24th, 2013