Barriers can be overcome if students learn to innovate

Barriers can be overcome if students learn to innovate

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 10, 2015 :  Speaking on the occasion of the  inaugural Sahyadri Centre for Social innovation and hands-on lab, engineering sense lab, innovation lab and product design lab, by former vice chancellor of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology and former director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory Dr Prahlada Rama Rao; he said that students should utilise the model of learning where teachers guide and students learn better.

He stressed that institutes should provide environment, space and opportunities for innovation where students being dynamic, highly networked, ambitious and comfortable in adopting new technologies can create wonders.

He illustrated about Skunkworks, where projects were being developed by a group of people who researched and developed a project primarily for the sake of radical innovation. The students should realise their potential and break barriers in order to innovate and explore.

Rao spoke about developed countries like Germany, Japan and USA that provided more leverage for innovative thinking. Sharing his memorable moments with former President late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, he said that he was a great scientist who ignited young minds.  He pointed out that solutions for problems can come through innovative products, services and processes. 

The Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management Chairman Manjunath Bhandary spoke about the importance of social innovation which would help build a better society. He said that almost 90 per cent of engineers fail to use their basic knowledge and added that a good engineer would always be the one who applies his knowledge towards the social problems.

Director of Research Prof C Ranganathaiah said that engineers should come up with innovations which were technology driven and contributed to the development of the society.