3rd IEEE CAS Outreach workshop on Machine Intelligence
The rapid growth of Electronics and IT technologies in developing solutions for the internet enabled devices opens up several opportunities for future in India. Recognizing this demand, and the acute shortage of talented young Electronics engineers in India, IEEE CASS Kerala Chapter, envisions to engage in a talent motivation drive in the IT hub of Kerala, Technopark, through series of hands-on workshops and mentorship programs. This year, IEEE CAS Kerala Chapter partnered with IIITM-Kerala, IT@Schools and Kerala Startup Mission to implement and organize the workshop.
After the previous two highly successful events reaching more than 1000 students in the state of Kerala, one in 2012, and another in 2014, the IEEE CAS outreach workshop on Machine Intelligence (http://www.iiitmk.ac.in/ieee-cas/index.html) has this year's focus on introducing high-school students to state of the art, electronics laboratory techniques and ideas of modern non-linear circuits that would have applications to machine intelligence. This year about 60 students were selected from all across Kerala, having participation from all districts. The selection of students were done by IT@School Kerala, and the workshop was locally organised in IIITM-Kerala, Technopark. The IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (IEEE CAS) supported the workshop through its outreach program funding. This is the 3rd time that an internationally competitive outreach proposal was funded to IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Kerala and has made a positive difference to the IEEE CAS outreach activities in Kerala.
The students learned basics and tricks of circuit design and device characterization through walk through examples and hands-on lab sessions. Students were given an overview of the functional FabLabs in Technopark, and how they can engage with scientist and engineers to realize ideas to practical products. At the end of the workshop, every student was given a kit with all the essential equipment and devices for them to learn and practice further their circuit design interest and skills. Students were provided participation certificates, and volunteers were recognized for their excellent efforts.
The workshop was developed through the outreach grant received to Dr Alex Pappachen James (Chair, IEEE CASS Kerala), and was coordinately organised with local institutional support from Dr. Asharaf S. (IIITM-K, Technopark) in the form of lab spaces and teaching resources. The workshop was inaugurated by Smt M. S. Jaya IAS, (Director of Public Instruction, Kerala) and Dr. Rajasree M. S. (Director, IIITM-K), and the electronic design kits were handed over to students by Mr. Unni Sankar (Chair, IEEE Kerala Section). Prof. S. Rajeev (IIITM-K) offered felicitations citing the importance of electronics design and Dr. Rajeev R.R. (IIITM-K) was the supporting event coordinator. The event is expected to generate wider interest among schools and can lead to the development of sustained Government programs in promoting Electronics oriented Education in Kerala, and India.
Alex Pappachen James, Nazarbayev University, Astana (Email: app@ieee.org)