BVRIT hosts SCHEMCON 2016

​Hyderabad: SCHEMCON—National Student Chemical Engineering Conference with theme Chemical Engineering Cutting Edges kicked off at BVRIT College near Hyderabad.CHVenkateshwarly, Principal BVRIT, Krishna Kumar, Director General of DeenDayal Petroleum University, Krishna Prasad, an industrialist and others graced the occasion.

The SCHECON 2016 is the 12th annual session being organised by BV RAJU Institute of Technology in association with Indian Institute of Chemical Engineering and Osmania University Chemical Technology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, BITS, JNTU-H, CBIT, JNTU -A, CVSR & others informed KV Vishnu RAJU, Chairman of Vishnu Education Society; Prof ChVenkateshwarlu Chairman of Organising Committee and Prof CB Radhika, Organising Secretary.

The theme for this year's conference is "Chemical Engineering Cutting Edges--Towards brighter Prospects". During two days Lectures, Paper, Poster Presentations, Technical Events will be held. Project Exhibition will also be held.

The event provides an excellent platform for all the budding Chemical Engineers to showcase their technical and innovative skills and acts as a source of encouragement and self-confidence for young minds informed vast.GB Radhika, Organising secretary of the event.

Speaking at the inauguration KV Vishnu Raju, Chairman of Sri Vishnu Educational Society said until 1990 nearly 15 colleges used to teach Chemical Engineering in Telangana. But, today just three colleges –BVRIT, CBIT and CVSR offer Chemical Engineering stream in Telangana.

Another three colleges in AP offer this stream. The number of colleges offering Chemical Engineering has come down drastically, he saidRight from the wake up to sleep whatever products we use in our daily life, nearly 70 to 80 per cent products have some connection to Chemical Engineering. Chemical Engineering has great potential.

It is a wonderful science. We need all branches of Engineering. But, many students are not opting this stream. They are going for Computer Science Engineering or IT.

We will have to change this scenario. We must bring back pride into Chemical Engineering, he said
And suggested that we need to organise events like Hackathons, that are organised regularly by IT sector to sustain students’ interest in the Chemical Engineering he said.

The subject has to be taught differently, he opined. Chemical Engineering is a wonderful field he said. ChemicalEngineering is the core subject of Engineering. It is not going to die. We will revive its past glory he said.

Addressing the gathering Shaymsundar Bang, President of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, a national body of Chemical Engineers established in 1947 said, today we have more than hundred institutes offering Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology Courses, together producing over 20,000 Chemical Engineers and Technologists ever year. These engineers and technologists have been instrumental in the growth of chemical industry in India, he added.

Speaking further he said, Chemical Engineering is a unique science, which has made it possible to produce a large number of products for the use of mankind. Chemical Engineering is not only limited to production of chemicals. This science is used in all industries.

Good thermodynamics knowledge is required in designing power plants. Modifying fuel properties with additives, for better performance of automobiles, developing corrosion resistant paints for marine applications, developing materials suitable for aircrafts in different weather conditions--- in all these areas chemical engineers have a substantial contribution to make, he informed.

Even medical science is integrated with chemical engineering. Several chemical and biochemical processes are going on in the body. All these processes are in the equilibrium at a given temperature what we call as a body temperature, he said.

Some study has been done by chemical engineers about the absorption of oxygen in blood. Rate of absorption of oxygen in blood can be studied in different conditions of breathing and the results will scientifically establish the credibility of such practices. Blood circulation in body can also be studied in the light of hydraulics and transport phenomenon.

The challenge of a chemical engineer is, how to bring all these developments in the existing technologies. Bang gave a over view of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers which has 137 student chapters, 37 regional chapters and 25000 students. It has 7 student chapters in Hyderabad.

The main aim of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers is to provide platform for Chemical Engineering students and share knowledge and spread the same and help them grow in the profession.