​STEER 2015
The first National Conference on ‘Sustainable Trends in Energy and Environmental Resources’ (STEER) was the first one of its kind conducted by the SSN Chemical Engineering Student Chapter in association with the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chennai Regional Centre on 27th and 28th of February 2015. The main objective of this conference, was to bring to limelight, the emerging arenas of research in the energy and environment sector. It brought together distinguished guest speakers and practitioners, and different research and undergraduate scholars from colleges all over Tamil Nadu to discuss the most pressing issues related to energy and environment and to ensure a sustainable future. It hoped to provide a platform for such discussion and STEER the students and researchers to a new spectrum of study.
The main thrust areas were:
1. Bio technology/Bio sensor/ Bio process
2. Clean Fuel technology / Eco friendly technology / Green technology
3. Effluent treatment / Wastewater treatment
4. Nano-technology / Novel materials technology
5. Pollution abatement
6. Process intensification
7. Technologies/sources for renewable energy
8. Modelling, simulation, control and optimisation
The conference was highly inter disciplinary and we received more than 75 papers and posters for the same, from different fields like chemical engineering, biotechnology, electrical and electronics engineering, civil engineering, electronics and communication engineering and so on.
A special event which included a workshop on COMSOL, a software used for modelling and simulation of engineering problems as a part of the conference
The conference was inaugurated by Dr. S. Selvan, who is the joint chief engineer of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. The esteemed chief guest graced us with his presence and a good half hour speech of the relevance of the topic to today’s world. He asserted as to how as engineers we must provide our part to safeguard the environment and judiciously utilize the resources to ensure sustainability.
Dr. Baskaran, the joint secretary of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chennai Regional Centre, was also present as our guest of honour for inaugurating the conference. He congratulated the SSN-IIChE student chapter on the efforts taken to organize and initiate STEER 2015, the first national conference of its kind.
The initiation of the conference was marked by the traditional lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries. The book of the conference proceedings, which contained about 55 abstracts for both paper and poster presentations, was also released in the inaugural function by the guests.
The paper and poster presentation sessions were divided into a number of sessions, of variegated fields. The conference thrust mainly on four major topics, namely-biotechnology, energy, environment and chemical engineering.
Every session had one internal and one external judge, and the session began by a guest lecture delivered by the external chair.
The guest speakers who also chaired the respective sessions include:
Mr.J. Madhusudhanan, Assistant Professor and Head, Sri Andal Alagar College of Engineering
Dr.A.Sivasamy, Principal Scientist,CLRI, Adyar
Dr. M. Seenuvasan, Professor and Head, Madha College of Engineering
Dr.V.Selvaraj, Assistant Professor, University College of Engineering, Anna University
The sessions started off with guest lectures and proceeded with presentations, and for each session, best paper award was given as per the results decided by the internal and external chairs.
Workshop on COMSOL saw about 100 registrations and was conducted by Dr.R.Sarvanathamizhan, associate professor, Chemical Engineering from AC College of Technology, Anna University. He introduced the software to the students and also solved a couple of questions that highlighted its application.
It wouldn’t have been possible for the department to successfully conduct this national conference, first under the SSN Student Chapter, if not for the support extended by the management and sponsors-Brics Micro Finance, CUMI, Institution of Engineers, Kalpakkam. The second and third year students also enthusiastically participated in conducting this conference successfully.