Vertical Ventures!

ISTE student chapter of our campus hosted TANTRA, a national-level technical fest during 27, 28 February and 1st March 2026. Many technical events and competitions were held as part of the event. 

The student members from our department contributed to the tech fest by hosting an exciting structural design competition titled Vertical Ventures. This event was designed to challenge students’ engineering creativity, structural intelligence, and teamwork. 

The competition was conducted in the auditorium, where participants were tasked with designing and constructing a tower using ice-cream sticks and glue, within specified dimensions, capable of carrying the maximum possible load while maintaining aesthetic appeal. The competition emphasized precision planning, structural stability, innovation, and smart engineering design.

A total of 15 teams, including participants from other institutions, took part in the competition. Each team consisted of four students who collaboratively designed and constructed their towers using the materials provided, while adhering to the specified constraints. 

The load test of the models were conducted using the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) in our lab. The evaluation was carried out based on three main criteria: the vertical  load-carrying capacity of the tower, its aesthetic appearance, and compliance with the specified design requirements.

The event was coordinated by Ms. Annmariya Babu (S8 CEA)  and Ms. Ananya Ajith (S6 CEA) and the models were evaluated by Dr. Asha Joseph and Ms. Reshma Prasad, faculty members from our department.

 
The competition featured an attractive prize pool of ₹10,000 and  the prizes were distributed by renowned playback singer Mr. Sachin Warrier, our alumni. Mr. Adwin Antu, Alwin Pauly, Arjith Manoj and Govind K (S6 CEA) bagged the first prize worth Rs. 5000. 

Vertical Ventures turned out to be a thrilling experience for the participants, providing them with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to practical structural challenges, while also fostering innovation, teamwork, and engineering excellence. 

The event successfully demonstrated how creative design combined with sound engineering principles can lead to structures that truly stand tall under pressure.

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Dr. Asha joseph, Professor, CE

Suresh Gopi on campus!

Yes, you read it right. We hosted Shri Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, on campus for the formal inauguration of the Centre of Future Skills (CFS) established at our campus in association with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), which comes under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, and the implementing partner Ethnotech Academy.

The program was conducted on 27 Feb 2026 at our Green Field Open Air Stage. The program witnessed the presence of Mr. Roji M John, MLA; Shri Eqbal Manoj C, EVP & Head - Branch Banking, Federal Bank; Dr. Pratapsinh K Desai, President, Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE); Shri Shaik Mahmood, Regional Head-South, NSDC; Smt. Jaya Radhakrishnan, President, Mookkannoor Grama Panchayat; and Dr. Kiran Rajanna, MD & CEO, Ethnotech Academy.

After a long time, we were hosting such a high-profile event on our campus. We had to make some extra planning too. The time schedule of Shri Suresh Gopi was a bit tight and he wanted to reach the campus by 8:30 AM. So we did something unusual - we changed the college timing to 8:00 AM. It was something everyone was a bit concerned about. But to everyone’s surprise, all reached the campus by 8:00 AM and everyone was seated in the grand venue by 8:30 AM.

It was an interesting function altogether. The program was charted by the officials from Ethnotech Academy. According to their custom, there were felicitations for both the hosts and guests with shawls and special garlands, followed by the lighting of the lamp. Prizes were also distributed to the students who won the hackathon organised under the banner of CFS.

Post this, Shri Suresh Gopi addressed the gathering in his own style, speaking eloquently about the initiatives of the Central Government and how the CFS will contribute significantly to the skill development of students not just from FISAT but from the entire community around it. He did not forget to give special appreciation to our student, Mr. Parthasarathy, who delivered the prayer song. He also appreciated the students for turning up early for the event.

In his own classical style he said:

“ഞാൻ ആണ് കാരണം, ഞാൻ തന്നെയാണ് കാരണം, ഞാൻ മാത്രമാണ് കാരണം”

for making the students wake up and come early to the campus.

Just before leaving, he had a brief chat with the cleaning staff of our campus, who were gathered near the exit of the Green Field near the Civil Lab and wanted to take photos with him. He praised them for keeping the campus clean, especially the toilet in the Civil Lab which he used just after the program before leaving the campus.

Yes, it was fun to have a celebrity like Shri Suresh Gopi on our campus! It was a grand function, one that will remain in the memories of FISAT forever.

Invited talk on Sustainable Building Practices

Our department conducted an invited talk on “Sustainable Building Practices in India” On 24th February 2026. The program was conducted in association with the IGBC Student Chapter of our campus. The speaker was Dr. Meril George, Professor and Dean Administration, SCMS School of Architecture and venue our Library Seminar Hall. The target audience was the final year B.Tech students.

The session started with a discussion on why sustainability is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. Dr. Meril George explained that with rapid urbanization and growing environmental concerns, the construction sector plays a major role in either harming or protecting the environment. Since buildings consume a large amount of energy, water, and materials, adopting sustainable practices is not just an option but a responsibility.

She explained the three pillars of sustainability — environmental, social, and economic. Environmental sustainability focuses on reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. Social sustainability ensures healthier living spaces and improved quality of life. Economic sustainability highlights long-term cost efficiency and resource management. She clearly conveyed that all three pillars must work together for true sustainable development.

The speaker also discussed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how sustainable construction practices contribute especially to goals like Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Climate Action. This helped us understand that sustainability in construction is connected to global development efforts.

A major part of the session focused on sustainable architecture and green buildings. She spoke about climate-responsive design, proper orientation of buildings, use of natural lighting and ventilation, water conservation methods like rainwater harvesting, and the integration of renewable energy sources. She explained that green buildings are designed not only to reduce environmental impact but also to improve indoor comfort and health for occupants.

Dr. Meril George also introduced various green building certification systems such as LEED, IGBC, GRIHA, and BREEAM. She explained how these certifications assess buildings based on energy efficiency, water management, material selection, waste reduction, and indoor environmental quality. It was interesting to learn how these rating systems encourage sustainable construction practices and provide recognition to environmentally responsible projects.

The session also covered the challenges in implementing sustainable building practices in India, including higher initial costs, lack of awareness, limited technical expertise, and reluctance to move away from conventional methods. However, she emphasized that the long-term benefits, such as reduced operational costs and environmental protection, outweigh the initial investment.

Overall, the session was informative and thought-provoking. It gave us a clearer understanding of how sustainability can be practically implemented in the construction sector. The talk encouraged us to think more responsibly as future engineers and to contribute towards building a more sustainable future.

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Roshni P Nair, S8 CE