Shaastra is the annual technical festival of the Indian Inst itute of Technology\, Madras. Being a completely student-run festival\, it holds the distinction of being the first of its kind in the world to be I SO 9001:2008 certified. Heralded as the largest student managed festival i n India\, any edition of Shaastra is always awaited with enthusiasm from s tudents all over the nation. Shaastra 2015\, slated to be held from Januar y 3th to 6th 2015\, has been built around the theme of Designing Dreams\, and has several new initiatives and events to do exactly the same.
R
esearch Initiatives
\nSince the last couple of years\, the Research M
agazine at Shaastra has provided a platform for the research community to
exhibit their work to the academia and industry. The successful Pan IIT Re
search Expo\, held at the previous edition of Shaastra proved to be one of
the best research exhibitions in the country. This year too\, we continue
this movement and seek to expand our horizons. This expo brings together
the very best of four groups - research scholars\, academia\, alumni and i
ndustrialists under one roof to discuss\, deliberate and interact. In a wo
rld driven by new and innovative research\, this revolutionary initiative\
, which seeks to deliver groundbreaking ideas is sure to change the face o
f research in India.
Shaastra Lecture Series
\nIt’s not just
about shows and competitions\, though. The learning experience at Shaastra
is facilitated by the unparalleled Lecture Series. The pre-Shaastra Lectu
re Series started off with Dr.Robert Langer\, the most celebrated scientis
t in the field of Bio-materials from MIT\, USA delivering a spellbinding t
alk. Among the other world renowned speakers set to grace Shaastra this ye
ar are famous academicians such as Mr.Sunil Kumar the Dean of the Booth Sc
hool of Business and Ms.Romila Thapar\, the renowned Indian historian from
the Jawaharlal Nehru University\, New Delhi. The Series also features Dr.
Anil Kakodkar\, a distinguished nuclear scientist\, the ex-chairman of the
Atomic Energy Commission of India and Ms.Archana Sharma\, a physicist fro
m CERN. A spectacular series of exhibitions is just another of Shaastra’
s several treats this year!
Envisage
\nEnvisage\, the first ev
er fully student-run technoentertainment show\, is back\, bigger and bette
r! This year we are all set to up the ante\, with an experience you just c
annot miss. Taking on greater heights\, we attempt to set the world record
for the largest colour display of the Persistence of Vision. Witness a vi
sual extravaganza that is sure to leave you spell-bound with Shaastra’s
Envisage 3.0.
The IIT Madras International Symposium
\nThe IIT
Madras International Symposium is a platform for bright minds across the c
ountry and
\nbeyond to meet and engage in debates about emerging glob
al challenges\, and explore new
\nperspectives\, innovations and aven
ues to address these issues. At IITM\, the participants will
\nmeet o
ther students from various universities across the world and encounter new
world views and ideas.
India is caught in a flux between unbelievab le growth on one hand\, and widening inequalities on the other. To navigat e this wide spectrum of people\, and to form inclusive policies such that it caters to every member of a very diverse society\, as the world’s lar gest democracy must\, remains a challenge. Following a decade of rapid gro wth fuelled by a prosperous service sector\, indicators of health are stil l poor\, health care infrastructure insufficient and plagued by inefficien cy\, and personal expenditure on health\, which many can ill afford\, cont inues to be high. Over the four days of the Symposium\, the participants w ill be addressed by mentors from the fields of technology\, policy and the social sciences\, and will debate positions to improve present conditions . The discussions will involve questions exploring concepts like equality and democracy\, the role of the state\, and the market in healthcare.
< p>The IIT Madras International Symposium will address and deliberate on th e issues under the following criterions:Health and Technology
\nHealth and Policy
\nHealth and Disparity
The Pledge-A-Book Ca
mpaign
\nThe Pledge-A-Book campaign is Shaastra's attempt to give bac
k to society and to create impact in the fields of education and literacy.
This campaign aims to collect books which are donated by patrons of Shaas
tra\, and use these books to set up libraries for underprivileged students
.
The campaign was flagged off by renowned science writer Mr. Anil A nanthaswamy. Since then\, there have been several collection drives within the campus\, including one at the Terry Fox Run Chennai\, all of which ha ve received a great response. We have received pledges from notable person alities such as Stephen Fry\, Sudha Murthy and more.
Shaastra has al ready confirmed associations with well-known NGO the Indian Development Fo undation\, and Avanti Fellows\, and other associations are in the pipeline . The books collected through the campaign are being used to set up librar ies for underprivileged students at IDF's Bal Gurukuls\, as well as at Ava nti Fellows' Learning Centres. We have setup libraries at Avanti Fellows a nd another NGO called Aaravam.
The Pledge-A-Book campaign is our hum
ble attempt at bringing change and helping design the dreams of the young.
We would appreciate your support in this initiative.
\nJoin us\, and
help be the change! Pledge. Enlighten. Impact.
The Entrepreneurship
Confluence
\nShaastra has always encouraged entrepreneurship excelle
nce. Taking this ideology to a higher level\, Shaastra 2015 presents the E
ntrepreneurship Confluence\, an event to discuss and deliberate the crux o
f entrepreneurship and its various other facets.
The Entrepreneurshi p Confluence would include a panel discussion by IIT Madras faculty on tak ing their research forward and implementing them in the real world through business. Panel discussions by notable alumni is also on the agenda. This is to talk about the other route that entails turning your ideas into a b usiness that is to startup at some point in your career after a stellar II T degree. Successful startups from IIT Madras such as Hyperverge will be a part of this discussion and promises to be an enriching experience.
The event also has an on-the-spot elevator pitch competition and will als o provide networking opportunities to the participants. The Confluence wou ld also include a discourse about the institute level facilities meant for entrepreneurship such as the NIRMAAN\, CSIE and the Incubation Cell at II T Madras.
With prizes worth over Rs. 24 lakhs and never-seen-before events and exhibitions\, Shaastra 2015 promises to surpass all its previou s editions. Whether their interests lie in robotics\, quizzing\, computer programming\, becoming future managers or learning how to fly an aeroplane \, there will be something at Shaastra for every participant and spectator \, irrespective of their age or interests.
Further details can be fo und at www.shaastra.org and www.facebook.com/Shaastra or follow us on www. twitter.shaastra.org
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