Emerging and strategic areas of Mechanical Engineering such as advanced material science engineering, advancement in smart manufacturing and their applications in industrial robotics featured in the three-day International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering Research and Development (ICRAMERD) which concluded at Siksha and Anusandhan (SOA) on Saturday.

Scientists and professionals from various fields like academics, industry and research participated in the conference organised by the Mechanical Engineering department of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER), SOA’s faculty of engineering and technology, to share their expertise and experience.

The other subjects discussed at the conference included energy storage and conversion and power system engineering besides latest research on novel materials, new strategies and innovation to overcome the technical challenges of Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Mechatronics and Robotics, Artificial Intelligence in manufacturing process, environmental science, renewable energy and automation in healthcare systems.

More than 200 academicians including researchers and industry professionals attended the conference.

Dr. Balakrushna Panda, former Zonal Developmental Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, was the chief guest at the inauguration of the conference which was also addressed by Prof. Pradip Kumar Sahoo, Dean of ITER, Prof. J.K.Nath, Dean (Research and Development) of SOA, Prof. D.N.Thattoi, Additional Dean (Academics) of ITER.

Around 210 technical papers were received from scientists and professionals working in various fields of which 150 were shortlisted for publication.

The keynote speakers and resource persons for the conference included Dr. Sisir Mantry, Raman Research Fellow, University of Notthingham, UK, Prof. S.A.Sherif, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, USA, Prof. Jaiveer Singh, Associate Professor, IIT, Jodhpur, Prof. S.Pradyumna, Professor, IIT, Delhi and Mr. Sanjay Kumar Pattnaik, General Manager (Environment), NALCO.