UditVani, Jamshedpur : The Institution of Engineers (India), Jamshedpur Local Centre, organized a one-day seminar on “Eco-Innovations for a Sustainable Future” on February 21, at the SNTI Auditorium in Bistupur, bringing together eminent academicians, industry leaders and young engineers to deliberate on sustainable pathways for engineering and development.
The event commenced with a ceremonial welcome of the Chief Guest, Goutam Sutradhar, Director of National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, and Session Chairman Vineet Kumar Sah, Chief – Long Products, Tata Steel and Chairman, IE(I) Jamshedpur Local Centre.
The dignitaries were welcomed by Dr. Seeram Madhuri, Honorary Secretary of the Local Centre. The inaugural session began with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp.
In his welcome address, Sah underscored pressing environmental challenges such as climate change, rapid urbanization, rising carbon emissions and unplanned development.
He stressed that reactive measures are no longer sufficient, asserting that sustainable development is now imperative, with engineers playing a pivotal role in shaping resilient and responsible growth.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Sutradhar emphasized that sustainability in engineering demands a long-term vision that integrates environmental stewardship with societal well-being.
He highlighted the need for efficient resource utilization, waste minimization and carbon footprint reduction to create healthier living environments.
He also outlined several initiatives undertaken by NIT Jamshedpur to promote innovation, incubation, start-ups and entrepreneurship among youth, alongside skill development programmes conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and industry partners.
The keynote lecture on “Sustainability in Engineering: Role of Engineers in Sustainable Development” was delivered by Prof. Anil Kumar Choudhary of the Department of Civil Engineering, NIT Jamshedpur.
He elaborated on five core principles of sustainable engineering — efficient resource utilization, minimization of environmental impact, social responsibility, lifecycle thinking and collaborative approaches – and presented success stories that offer practical solutions to the ongoing environmental crisis.
The second technical session, conducted by Dr. Anupam Kumari, Associate Professor and Programme Coordinator in Mechanical Engineering at Arka Jain University, focused on “Hydrogen as a Clean Energy Carrier: Production, Storage, and Utilization.”
She highlighted hydrogen’s potential to meet future energy demands while significantly reducing environmental impact.
In the third session, G. R. P. Singh, Head – Quality Assurance & Analytics, Central Planning & Resource Group, Tata Steel, spoke on “Role of Maintenance Engineers in Promoting Sustainability.”
He emphasized behavioural change and robust maintenance practices as key drivers in enhancing system efficiency and environmental responsibility.
The fourth session was delivered by Dr. Alok Kumar Ray, Assistant Professor at NIT Jamshedpur, on “Eco-Innovations in Thermal Engineering: Phase Change Materials for Clean Energy and Industrial Sustainability.”
He shed light on emerging advancements in thermal engineering and their application in clean energy solutions.
The final technical presentation was delivered by Dr. Dulari Hansdah, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT Jamshedpur, on “Thermal Conversion of Medical Plastic Waste for Useful Energy,” highlighting innovative approaches to sustainable plastic waste management.
The seminar witnessed participation from over seventy delegates representing academia and industry, including students and research scholars from NIT Jamshedpur, RVS College of Engineering and Technology, Maryland Institute of Technology and Management, Srinath University, Arka Jain University, Rashtriya Technical Institute Jharkhand and NTTF Golmuri, along with professionals from Tata Steel, Tata Tinplate, Tata Steel Growth Shop, CSIR-NML, RSB Transmission Ltd. and TSUISL.
The programme was coordinated by Er. Krishnendu Shaw of IE(I) Jamshedpur Local Centre and concluded with a valedictory session featuring certificate distribution, participant feedback and a formal vote of thanks by Dr. Seeram Madhuri.
Marked by insightful deliberations and vibrant interaction, the seminar successfully charted a progressive roadmap for embedding sustainability at the core of engineering practice.
