Category Archives: Education

IIT-K makes UAVs with military applications

Education, Science & Technology

Kanpur:

Three smart multi-function unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed by the IIT-Kanpur have reportedly evoked a response from the Indian defence forces as they could possibly be used in military operations and are cheaper than those currently being sourced from foreign countries.

A defence team is expected to visit the institute soon to see a demonstration of the UAVs that could be used for surveillance in insurgency-hit areas as well as in battlefields for various operations. The UAVs are fitted with gadgets of various kinds, including electro-optical and thermal cameras and are ready for mass production, claimed IIT-K sources.

The first UAV has been named as SWATI or Silent Watch Aircraft For Tactical Intelligence. SWATI requires a small runway of only 50 to 80 meters to take off and can have a maximum take-off weight of 16 to 22 kgs. It could fly with either fuel or batteries. With petrol, it can stay in air for about eight hours and with batteries it has a four-hour endurance. It can keep an eye over an area of 100 kms.

Prof Philip has worked on the development of these UAVs along with Prof A K Ghosh, Prof Nischal Verma and Prof Satyaki Roy. A team of 30 students has also workedon these UAVs.

The second UAV is AMITA or Autonomous Man-packable Intelligent Tactical Aircraft and does not require a runaway to be launched. The light-weight AMITA can be carried in three backpacks. It can be hand-launched and weighs just six to eight kgs. It can remain in the air for more than three hours.

“The third UAV is solar-powered and is a bigger aircraft. A prototype of this UAV has been developed. It can get charged while flying and all its requirements would be met by solar power,” said Prof A K Ghosh adding, “75% of the power requirements of this UAV is met by solar energy, thus increasing its endurance.”

Prof Ghosh said that an expert team from defence forces is expected to come to IIT-Kanpur soon to witness the demonstration of these UAVs. He, however, declined to divulge further details.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / by Abhinav Malhotra / TNN / May 25th, 2016

CBSE results: Lucknow girl tops in Allahabad region, scores 98.6%

Education, Records, All
Anshul Bhadauria (middle) scored 98.6% to top the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 examinations in the Allahabad region. (Deepak Gupta/HT photo)
Anshul Bhadauria (middle) scored 98.6% to top the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 examinations in the Allahabad region. (Deepak Gupta/HT photo)

Lucknow girl Anshul Bhadauria proved everyone, who believe that one cannot score high in subjects that are generally offered in humanities, wrong.

Anshul scored 98.6% to top the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 examinations in the Allahabad region, the results of which were declared on Saturday. She obtained 493 marks out of 500.

A student of Manipal Public School, Anshul has scripted history of sorts by scoring a perfect 100 in history, 99 in psychology and physical education, 98 in economics and 97 in English.

“Believe me, it is wrong to say that one cannot score high in arts stream. Stop underestimating students of humanities. Arts stream offers several options today,” Anshul says.

The 18-year-old says if a student loves a particular subject, they are bound to do well and that is a misnomer to say that only students with mathematics and science subjects can score high.

Anshul now wants to pursue economics either from University of Delhi’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) or Benaras Hindu University.

Daughter of a banking sector employee and a homemaker, Anshul wants to become an economist to help the country fight poverty. “My heart bleeds to see poverty all around. Even after several years of Independence, the country is not free from poverty,” she rued.

Anshul credits her teachers and parents, who never put any burden on her to pursue a career in science, for her impressive performance.

“I was one of those lucky ones whose parents never put an undue pressure to study science or mathematics. They allowed me to pick a career of my choice. I love economics and psychology and I decided to make a career in economics,” she says.

Showering a heap of praise for Anshul, school principal Anupama Shukla said that she was a bright child and remained focused in her studies.

Unlike most students of her age who remain hooked to social media, Anshul does not have a Facebook account. “I find it to be wastage of time,” Anshul, who likes reading and listening to music, says.

This is not the first time that a student of Manipal Public School scored high in arts stream. In 2014, Kriti Sapra topped in the Allahabad region by scoring 98.2%.

Kriti managed a perfect score in economics, 99% in history and psychology, 97% in English and 96% in physical education.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home / Rajeev Mullick, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / May 21st, 2016

Class X top four scorers are ‘sahelis’

Education

Allahabad:

Four classmates and friends Anamika Tiwari, Swati Maurya, Shalu Shukla and Shivangi Tripathi of Brij Behari Sahai Inter College bagged the top four positions in the district in high school. There used to be tough competition among the four ‘sahelis’ (friends) from past five years on securing top positions in every class.

Swati, who ranked second in the district by securing 96.83% is the daughter of vendor, who buys plastic goods from Chowk and sells them to customers .

Swati said, “My inspiration is my father whose guidance helped me achieve the position. He helped me keepfocus throughout the year.” She bagged 99 marks in science and 95 marks in mathematics. Swati aspires to be an IAS officer.

Her friend Shalu Maurya secured 96.83% marks and bagged third position in the district. She is the daughter of sub-inspector in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

“I credit my success to my teachers and father. I studied for six hours daily throughout the yea rand around 9 hours just before the start of examination.”

Shalu giggles that there was a fierce competition among the four ‘sahelis’ from past five years on securing top positions in class. “It used to be a healthy one and we would talk about anything and everything.” She wants to join Indian Engineering Service (IES) after completing her engineering.

Top ranker Anamika, who secure 97.17% marks, too aspires to be an IAS officer.
“I have studied hard but had never thought that I will emerge topper in city,” Anamika. Her father works in a private company.

Her classmate Shivangi Tripathi bagged fourth position by securing 95.50% marks. The girls were off social networking sites.

“We do not even have a cellphone so there were no distractions for us,” she added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Vinod Khanall / May 16th, 2016

IIT Kanpur students develop kit to fight child sexual abuse

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
A team of five students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed a workshop kit to spread awareness about sexual abuse of children. (HT photo)
A team of five students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed a workshop kit to spread awareness about sexual abuse of children. (HT photo)

A team of five students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed a workshop kit to spread awareness about sexual abuse of children.

Sexual abuse among children, though rampant, remains a taboo subject in India. At least 46% children are subjected to sexual abuse, but most don’t report the assaults to anyone.

Jhumkee Iyengar, who is guiding the team, said the workshop kit is self-sufficient and can be used by anyone with basic communication skills, affinity towards children and an interest in educating kids – teachers, NGO volunteers and school counsellors.

The team comprising of Apoorva Aggarwal, Mitali Bhasin, Sneha Parhi, Sachin NP and Swayamsiddha Panigrahi said it was difficult for them to read about child sexual abuse and understanding the current situation was an emotionally draining process. (HT photo)
The team comprising of Apoorva Aggarwal, Mitali Bhasin, Sneha Parhi, Sachin NP and Swayamsiddha Panigrahi said it was difficult for them to read about child sexual abuse and understanding the current situation was an emotionally draining process. (HT photo)

Iyengar is a faculty in the Design Program at IIT Kanpur where she teaches post-graduate design students a course that she conceptualised and created on Human Centered Design.

“Children in the age group of 8-12 years and in a group of 30-35 can be benefitted in a single session,” Iyengar said.

“The central message to kids is that being abused is not their fault and that they should freely discuss their problems with parents or teachers. Our underlying vision is to save a child’s innocence through knowledge,” the professor added.

The team developed the kit after extensive research and field studies, which included talking to psychologists, counsellors, teachers, parents and doctors along with holding focus group interviews in Kanpur slums. The initiative was a part of a year-long project that culminated in April 2015.

The workshop includes lessons on personal safety, respecting one’s body and overcoming guilt. It has been designed in a way such that it’s playful, educative and interactive, and also helps the teacher tackle the embarrassment that’s likely to accompany the subject.

“The content has been approved by subject experts and psychologists,” Iyengar said.

“We tested the product internally and iteratively as it was being defined and refined. It was also tested by the staff of an NGO on the children they serve. Pilot testing is being done in schools and the product is being further refined,” shared Prof Iyengar.

The team comprising of Apoorva Aggarwal, Mitali Bhasin, Sneha Parhi, Sachin NP and Swayamsiddha Panigrahi said it was difficult for them to read about child sexual abuse and understanding the current situation was an emotionally draining process.

“Sexual abuse has so many wrong notions attached to it. So, spreading awareness about this issue is definitely of paramount importance. For instance, the middle, upper middle class societies are quick to dismiss child sexual abuse as a problem of the lower classes,” Bhasin said.

Aggarwal said she too had gone through one such harrowing experience when she was a child.

“As a child, there were instances when I was subjected to uncomfortable scenarios that disturbed me for weeks but I was unable to react to the situation at the time. In retrospect, my parents always did everything in my best interests but something was missing,” Aggarwal said.

“While they spared no efforts to send me to the best school of the city, my mom, dad, sister – no one – ever told me how to guard myself from the world. Somewhere they hesitated in giving me that one important life lesson,” she added.

Currently available in English, the kit can be translated into different Indian languages.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / HindustanTimes.com / Home> Lucknow / by Rajeev Mullick, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / April 07th, 2016

IIT-K boy develops kettle that uses app to brew tea

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Science & Technology
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur’s (IIT-K) Sachin Np has designed Ocha 2.0, a customisable tea maker. (Handout image)
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur’s (IIT-K) Sachin Np has designed Ocha 2.0, a customisable tea maker. (Handout image)

If you are still brewing tea in a kettle then it’s time for you to switch to a tea maker that will make your brewing experience tech savvy.

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur’s (IIT-K) Sachin Np has designed Ocha 2.0, a customisable tea maker which uses a mobile application to brew tea to suit the user’s taste buds and can be scheduled to keep a cup ready.

“Not everyone prefers the same tea that we get from a vending machine. Now, this is not a problem anymore. Brewing tea is now an art. In the case of Ocha 2.0, I have redefined the rules as art follows technology,” Sachin said.

His kettle is loaded with options such as customising and scheduling the tea as and when the user wants it to be ready. So, one can boil the water at the particular temperature they want and set an alarm the night before to keep the tea ready.

“It can be operated by the user in two different ways. Either with the help of the mobile application that comes along with the product or with the help of the user interface embedded onto the product. The kettle comes with a central display console comprising a display button placed right at the centre of the console that helps in selecting the various options in the menu,” he says.

It also has a control dial along with two push buttons that are embedded on its either side. The application also makes it possible to operate Ocha remotely with the help of Internet of things.

According to Sachin, brewing tea is a play between tea dust, infusion rate, the quantity of milk and the amount of sugar to give a cup of perfect tea. The existing tea makers are totally void of customisation, as even sugar and strength of tea is difficult to manipulate, he says.

“It also kills the spice up factor called aroma. Ocha 2.0 is a jack of all trades. It doesn’t miss out on any of these and is a cocktail of all the conventional brewing experiences. Opinion differs from one person to the other and so is the taste,” he says.

Sachin’s prototype of the kettle, which he developed within a year, helped him win A’ Design Award and Competition, the world’s largest design competition recognising the best designs, concepts, products and services. (Handout image)
Sachin’s prototype of the kettle, which he developed within a year, helped him win A’ Design Award and Competition, the world’s largest design competition recognising the best designs, concepts, products and services. (Handout image)

His prototype of the kettle, which he developed within a year, helped him win A’ Design Award and Competition, the world’s largest design competition recognising the best designs, concepts, products and services.

“I believe design lies in everything that makes a user not to let think of its design. The design should be always like a fluid for a user that just flows flawlessly,” he said.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Lucknow / Rajeev Mullick, Hindustan Times,Lucknow / May 02nd, 2016

Allahabad boys’ ‘Garuda’ takes off with elan

Education, Science & Technology

Allahabad:

A six-member team of MNNIT has come up with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The drone, developed in the shape of a bird, will be launched under Startup India programme.

Led by final year student of BTech, mechanical, Aswani Singh, the team’s multi-utility UAV is part of its final year project.

Talking to TOI, Aswani said, “The UAV made by us is inspired from mythological bird ‘Garuda’. The biggest problem with traditional drones is that they can easily be spotted whereas our ‘Garuda’ looks more like a bird and is invisible to the enemy.”

With a wing span of 1.5m, the drone weighs 700 gram. It can fly up to a height of 500 meters above the ground, and once fully-charged, it can cover a distance of over 8km at a speed of 80km/hr, added Aswani.

There are three types of UAVs, including the one with fixed wings (resembling airplane), Delta plane and multi-chopper, added Aswani. Other members of his team include Harsh, Anil, Akanksha , Dhwani and Sweety.

The drone can be carried in bag and assembled within a minute. It can fly for 20 minutes at a stretch, and once the power goes off, the drone gets charged in five minutes and is ready to fly again, he said. Flying at the top speed, the UAV takes perfect pictures as it is also fitted with vibration dampers, he added.

Currently, the UAV is controlled from a laptop, but the team is working on its mechanism so that the device can be operated from a tab or smartphone in future. We are working to increase the flying time as well as the range of the UAV, so that its utility increases, Singh said.

The drone would cost around Rs 50,000, he said, adding that we will be imparting training to our customers so that they can repair the UAV themselves. This will help reduce the cost of maintenance.
The team had recently trained 29 schoolkids.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / TNN / April 29th, 2016

MSc students adopt village, give it a lesson in development

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features
Allahabad University (File Photo)
Allahabad University (File Photo)

Allahabad :

It started as another MSc course in September last year at the botany department of Allahabad University but has grown into something bigger. Since 14 students of this innocuous PG course in rural technology and development adopted it, Ramapura village of Bahadurpur block hasn’t looked back.

The course, a brainchild of head of the department Prof Anupam Dikshit, includes adoption of a village to give practical experience to the students. When Ramapura was picked, the idea was to develop it along the lines of of Punsiyari village, the state-of-the-art village in Gujarat’s Samarkata district.

“Our students visit this village at least twice a month and their efforts in making the lives of the villagers easier are showing results,” said Dikshit. For one, the students, alongwith active participation of village folks and Sri Satya Sai Seva organization, UP, are ensuring cleanliness and better roads in the village.

With their work, the village which had just two toilets has been sanctioned funds for 50 more. It has also been given 10 solar lights.

“We plan to design a mobile lab for soil, water and pathological tests,” Dikshit added.

“Our aim is to use this course to develop villages of Allahabad using latest technology and techniques. The course will help in promoting rural entrepreneurship which would, in turn, check migration of rural populace to urban areas,” he said.

Village head Ram Murti Yadav is all praises for the team. “Students’ efforts are commendable as they haven’t only helped us with basic amenities but are also educating our women and children on several issues that would go a long way in developing the village further,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani / TNN / April 28th, 2016

From NIFT to village panchayat, Priyanka Yadav knits with ease

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Lucknow :

For Priyanka Yadav, the 7th National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations held at Indira Gandhi Pratisthan would certainly be a special one, as the 24-year-old village pradhan from Etawah’s Sarsai Nawar (village panchayat) and a pass out of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bengaluru was felicitated by the State Election Commission.

Priayanka who seeks inspiration from Chhavi Rajawat, the woman sarpanch from Rajasthan’s Soda village (60 kilometres from Jaipur), says, “I first came to know about Chhavi Rajawat from my elder sister, who reposed faith in me that I have the attributes of leading a village.” She further stated that initially, she was apprehensive of stepping into politics, but after persuasion from her father (Jairaj Singh alias Pappu Yadav), who is also the kshetra panchayat chairman from Takha.

Elaborating her plan of action to empower the villagers, Priyanka, who is currently pursuing master in fashion business from NIFT, said, “I obtained knowledge in knitwear designing from NIFT-Bengaluru, while studying there from 2010 to 2014, and I want to empower the people of village by giving them the latest innovations in knitting techniques and designing, so that they can prosper, while staying in the village itself.” She further stated that gradually, women could start their own business and support their families.

When asked whether she would move ahead electorally, Priyanka said that if the women voters of my village start showing signs of self-reliance and self-confidence, “then I will move on, else, I would continue to work at the village panchayat level.”

Smriti Singh (23), who has done post-graduation in management (HR), and won the polls from Ratsarkala in Ballia wanted to have a word with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, and said, “I wanted CM sir to make the entire village like me.” Singh who was attached to KGMU for two-and-half years as a research associate said that she did not want to join the politics, but it was only after her siblings convinced her that she eventually decided to contest the panchayat polls.

Similarly, a couple of other elected village pradhans also wanted to use the opportunity to narrate their woes to the chief minister, but could not do so, as CM did not turn up in the event. Woman entrepreneur Pooja Kumari, who won from Majra Jatpatiyaali in Kasganj district was so overwhelmed by the award that she was unable to speak out of excitement.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / Arunav Sinha / TNN / April 25th, 2016

Kashi lad to represent UP in Japan-Asia youth exchange prog

Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, World Opinion

Varanasi:

A class X student of Bangali Tola intermediate college of the city, Gaurav Patel is among the students selected for ‘Inspire’ award scheme (under the department of science and technology) who will represent UP in the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Exchange Program in Science) in Japan from April 17 to 23. He is the only student from the state to have been selected for the scheme.

Gaurav secured sixth position at the national level on the basis of his science model aimed at conservation of energy by incorporating optical fibre. He was among the 60 students selected for the award scheme held at IIT-Delhi last year aimed at promoting scientific talent among children. The district inspector of schools (DIOS) Awadh Kishore Singh had recently informed the principal of Bangali Tola intermediate college about Gaurav’s selection for the programme along with a letter from ministry of science and technology, GOI on April 2.

Gaurav had participated in the science exhibition organized as a part of ‘Inspire’ award scheme last year. His model on ‘energy conservation by optical fibre’ ranked first in district and he finally bagged sixth rank at national level thus making his place among top 10. “We are all happy and proud of him,” said principal of BTIC, Jai Prakash Pandey.

When TOI contacted Gaurav, who will leave for Japan from Delhi on Saturday night, said, “I am looking forward to this visit as it will not only introduce me to some of the brilliant young minds but also expose me to the eminent people associated with field of science.”

Talking about his model, he said, “Energy conservation is one of the concerns of our government much is being done to reduce the energy consumption. I had been reading about renewable energy and upon realizing its importance, decided to prepare a model on the same by incorporating optical fibre, which consumes far less energy.”

“He is a very hardworking and it was because of his interest in science that his model has been selected. The teachers of his college have also been very supportive and I hope he gets to learn more about his subject from his abroad visit and make our country proud”, his father, Munna Lal Patel,said who works as a textile designer with a private firm.

Notably, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) is an innovative programme sponsored and managed by the department of science and technology. The basic objective is to communicate to the youth of the country the creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the study of science at an early age and thus build the required human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the science and technology system.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Varanasi / Punkhuri Kapoor / TNN / April 17th, 2016

‘Green Girl’ to attend signing of Paris pact

Amazing Feats, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Lucknow:

India’s ‘Green Girl’ Yugratna Srivastava (19), a second year engineering student, will represent youth at the Paris convention on global warming. She is among the six participants selected by the UN for the April 22 ceremony – on World Mother Earth Day – where 150 countries would sign the Paris agreement in climate change.

Elated to be part of the event, Yugratna said, “COP21 (Conference of Parties) at Paris was close to my heart. When the Paris agreement was finalized after two hectic weeks in December, there was a sense of achievement worldwide. But more than that, there was an air of uncertainty. The dream is now turning into reality.”

She added, “I am happy that I will be representing youth and civil society at the ceremony. It is empowering to know that our voices are valued. Despite all differences, we all need to stand together more than ever to make this a reality.”

As to how she was selected, United Nations has rolled out a form for civil society participation wherein about 300 individuals from various organisations applied. Out of those, a selection committee formed by the UN picked six participants.

About 100 world leaders and 150 nations are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Last year, on the opening day at COP21, Yugratna had made a presentation to world leaders, including PM Narendra Modi and US president Barack Obama.

Prior to that, she had attended the conference of youths, held from November 26 to 28. There, she had to prepare youths from 66 countries to talk about climate change before world leaders at COP21.

“Youths participating in the conference made presentations on ‘climate crisis’ and concerns about environment conservation,” said Yugratna.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / April 21st, 2016