Talk by Prof Narayanan Komerath from Georgia Tech University on Rural Energy Self Reliance

The faculty of the College got a rare opportunity on 19 July 2018 to interact with a highly acclaimed aerospace engineer from one of the leading Universities in the United States. The visitor was Prof (Dr) Narayanan Menon Komerath, Professor, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, US. Prof Komareth has three US Patents to his credit. He has published more than 400 research papers in fluid and aerodynamics, space concepts and micro renewable energy systems.

  There is a Wikipedia article on Prof Narayanan Komareth which is available at this link.

During the interactive session arranged by the ISTE VAST Chapter, Prof Komareth gave an inspirational talk on Rural Energy Self Reliance. The session was attended by Er G Mohanachandran, Executive Director, VICT, Dr Sudha Balagopalan, Academic Dean, Dr Saji C B, Principal, Prof K B M Nambuthirippad, Heads of Departments, and a faculty members from various departments.

Prof K V Leela welcomed Prof Komerath to the programme. She introduced the esteemed professor to the audience.

Prof Komerath explained various social and economic issues faced by the people of India through the ages. He illustrated how all these problems were inter-related as a web and were all linked to energy production. He explained how these issues, most of which are the most serious in rural areas, could be tackled by creating energy self-reliance. He suggested that solar energy and biogas energy as two sources of energy that could solve the energy deficiency problem in rural areas. He shared some of the difficulties he faced while working with solar energy. He then talked about the various projects undertaken by him in rural areas in India through Government schemes and the issues faced.

Dr Saji C B thanked Prof Komerath for the valuable talk and suggested that some projects might be taken up in the College with his help and collaboration. Dr SudhaBalagopalan appreciated his talk and shared some positive insights as to how some of the problems he faced could be solved.

Er. G Mohanachandran shared his own experiences, having worked in the energy sector for so many years and having headed various renewable energy projects in the campus itself. He revealed that the biogas plants in the campus has brought in much profit to the institution.