International Conference on Emerging Mechanical Technology Macro to Nano takes off at BITS Pilani

Mechanical technology involves understanding how products and machinery work and how to design, make, or use them. From consumer products to high performance automobiles, air-conditioned environments as well as jet aircraft, mechanical technology has changed society for the better.

Emerging Mechanical Technologies such as robotics, MEMS (Micro electro Mechanical Systems) and nanotechnology which are required to go from macro to micro to nano need understanding of concepts, materials and manufacturing methods. The advantages offered by these new technologies are enormous and if one can harness them, the scenario of the mechanical technology in the service of mankind at all levels is going to change.

Its befitting that this conference scheduled from 16 to 18 February 2007 is taking place at BITS, Pilani where the Nano Pathshala to educate the founder Chairman Shri G D Birla in 1901 grew to Micro School and College level and later in 1964 to the Macro Deemed University.

The conference proceedings have been made available in Macro size in the form of impressive book of over 300 pages, Micro size Book of Abstracts and a pen drive for the nano sizing. Even the conference schedule has a nano, micro and macro version!

The delegates for the conference come from countries of all sizes nano micro and macro across the globe such as South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Iran, Israel, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Portugal, UK, Canada and USA.

The conference sponsors from India include UGC, CEERI, CSIR, DRDO, SERC, DST and SBBJ apart from Coventor Inc, USA and FTD, Singapore.

The Chief Guest for the conference inauguration is Dr Chandra Shekhar Director of CEERI, Pilani and the Guest of Honor is Dr M G da Silva from Exponent Inc, USA.

Dr K K Birla Chancellor of BITS Pilani in his message for the conference has thundered that India should not lag behind in this opening up of a new frontier.

Vice Chancellor Prof L K Maheshwari in his message drove the point that these emerging technologies have also opened new application areas in all fields of human activities like medicine, pharmacy, biology, measurements and control, etc.

Professor R K Mittal Dean from BITS Pilani and Program Chair for the conference was emphatic in stating that the fundamental challenge for Mechanical Engineering Today is to exploit the phenomenal growth in electronics and allied disciplines and rapidly changing technologies to develop better systems to serve humanity.

Undoubtedly, this conference will be an important milestone for BITS Pilani to take a leap ahead in attaining leadership in these emerging technologies.