IIT wants 10 great ideas to change world...

GOLDEN JUBILEE

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: “All advancement and progress come through ideas, not through physical force or mechanical force,’’ Emerson had said. So when an institution like the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) celebrates 50 years of its existence, what message does it like to pass on to its students and faculty? To think harder.
On Friday, IIT-B unveiled its golden jubilee celebration plan to invite ideas that have the capability of changing the way the world lives. The IIT is seeking ‘10 great ideas to change the world in the next 50 years’ and has called for applications from students, alumni, faculty, present and retired staff members.

As IIT-B director Ashok Misra explained: “It will require research, innovation and creativity for any university to surge ahead in the 21st century.’’

Ideas can be in the area of information technology or social work, in agriculture or health engineering, but they must transform the way people get on from one day to another. Chairman of Godrej Group, Adi Godrej, said that if India has to achieve 10% growth rate and come up with solutions to the problems of poverty, education and health, and if societal transformation has to take place in the real sense, people need to come up with “out-of-the-box ideas’’. He added, “World growth for the last few years has been the highest ever in history because production has been high, caused by technological changes.

Those associated with IIT and interested in participating in the ‘10-great-ideas’ competition can send in their ideas by October 30, 2008. A website http://10greatideas.iitb.ac.in has also been created. Entries will be judged by an international panel of ideators, including principal scientific advisor to the government R Chidambaram, head of nanoscience at Cambridge University Mark Welland, chief mentor of Infosys N R Narayana Murthy, Naushad Forbes, director Forbes Marshall India and Ajay Piramal, among others. The panel will be chaired by former president A P J Abdul Kalam.

IIT-B expects at least 100 entries. Selection of the 10 greatest ideas will be completed by February 28, 2009. Those whose ideas are selected will be invited to present a white paper at a round table summit in March 2009.