MindSpark, the annual technical festival of COEP, Pune, started in 2007, seeks to inspire young minds to think differently, and motivates them to contribute to the field of science and technology. Eleven years since its inception, MindSpark has grown to be one of the biggest technical festivals of the country. With an annual footfall of 20,000 last year, the enthralling amalgamation of events draws students from both colleges and schools. The festival hosts More than 50 events, both technical and non-technical and a number of workshops. This year MindSpark’17 will be held on the 22nd, 23rd and 24thSeptember and is under the patronages of prestigious organizations – UNESCO, Digital India, Make in India and Startup India.The theme for this year is ‘Towards Techno-Utopia’ where we embark on a journey of creating an ideal society using technology and knowledge that we have gained as engineers.
MindSpark is also famously known for conducting Pune’s largest 24-hour student-organized hackathon. ‘Hackathon 2.0’, is the second edition of the same this year. Now in its eleventh edition, MindSpark’17 seeks to ignite a spark of fun and learning amongst students. With more than 50 events, things get more interesting and bigger this year.
The chief guest for the inauguration ceremony will be Ms. MedhaPatkar, a renowned social activist and founder of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, and former commissioner of the World Commission of Dams.
Have a look at what’s for store in MindSpark’17 this year:
KEYNOTE LECTURES:
One of the major attractions for MindSpark are the keynote lectures. This year the first keynote is Dr.R. Chidambaram, Principal scientific adviser to the Government of India and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission. Our second keynote is by Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, creator of the Ice Stupa Project and founder of The Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh. The famous Bollywood movie ‘3 Idiots’ is based on his lifestory. His character was played by Aamir Khan in the movie.
PRO NITE
As always, MindSpark has been hosting exciting music bands every year. This year, you can grove to the beats of India’s most happening band ‘The Local Train’. Be sure to mark 22nd September on your calendars!
EDUCATION FAIR:
MindSpark’17 is hosting an education fair for Campus France, an organization promoting French education worldwide. It aims to introduce students to the French system of learning and living – a system that has produced over50 Nobel Laureates, numerous Field medals, multiple knighthoods and space exploration expeditions since the 1900s. The fair promises to introduce students to the vibrant education system in France and the various opportunities that the country offers to its residents, with a booming economy. It take place on 22nd September 2017.
Pilot Edition of Technical Exhibition-
Technical Exhibition is an inspiring platform for budding entrepreneurs and inventors to showcase their ideas and products in front of a crowd which brings together brilliant young minds under one roof. It will be an opportunity for start-ups to present their ideas to take the world a step closer to Techno-Utopia. The start-ups would be getting a chance to test their market strategies, as well as other rising start-ups of other domains.
We have start-ups like Robolabs – who will mesmerize you with their bots; Phantom 3D – who will make you forget reality with their 3D printing, Bamboochi – who will open up your imagination with their innovative economic friendly products, and many more exciting start-ups. The Expo also includes a special 2 hour session with a panel including successful entrepreneurs, investors and funders, where the start-ups would be given a chance to pitch their ideas in front of a panel. The panel includes –
- Siddhartha Gupta -Program Manager for Oracle Cloud Accelerator
- VedMuthal -Co- Founder & CTO of Peppercorn Labs
- Prashant Pansare – CEO of Inteliment Technologies
- Rahul Desare -CEO of Sunshot Technologies
- PrafullaThote- MD at Samudra Electronic System Pvt Ltd
It will be moderated by Keerthi Kadam -Founder of EDCollaboration.com and Editor, Director at Pune Open Coffee Club.
AR VR+ Fun experience zones:
A setup of AR/VR games is coming to COEP for the first time for fest attendees to experience and enjoy, free of cost. The zone features multiple gaming consoles (PS4s) and games like FIFA 2017 and WWE 2k17 for students to appreciate and understand the new age technologies of AR/VR. There will also be hoverboards and segways presented at a stall, for entertainment.
HACKATHON 2.0
MindSpark is famously known for conducting Pune’s largest 24-hour student organized hackathon. This year, HACKATHON 2.0 in its second edition, brings Pune’s biggest platform where you get to show your coding skills and face the stiffest competition from brilliant minds!
PREDICT-X
Predict-X will test your ability to understand data, analyze it, and build predictive models and execute Sentiment Analysis. You will be challenged to solve real world problems with all your data science skills.
INDIKYA
India has always been lauded for its rich culture and heritage. This year, MindSpark is going to conduct a national level quiz ‘Indikya’ where you will be tested on your knowledge of India. It has already conducted in Bangalore, Nagpur and Goa on a large scale, and Pune is next on the list. Do come, defeat your competitors and take away exciting prizes.
BIDZKREIG
Think you got good bidding skills? Use your knowledge and intuition to build a dream team in this virtual auction and make your friends go red in envy.
RETRACER
Consider yourself a pro in programming? MindSpark gives you something hatke, given the input and the output and you shall find the most appropriate code. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? Test yourself and be the hatke programmer amongst all!
PAAKHI
Empowering women is the need of hour so that even those from the underprivileged sections of the society be more confident and independent. Paakhi is one such initiative of MindSpark’17.
Here’s a list of a the other events:
STRUCTURA(CIVIL): Epitome, Conquest, Metropolis, ID Civil
DYNAMUS(MECHANICAL /PRODUCTION): Assemblix, Mechtrix,Turnament, Intelligent Design
SILICUS(COMP./I.T.): Code Junkie, Code Junkie++, Retracer, Xterminate, Predict-X, Hackathon 2.0
VOLTUS (EnTC, Electrical, Instrumentation): Circuit Fixer, Encrypto, Microapps
SUBSTANTIA(CHEMICAL/METALLURGY):On the Etch, Dexter’s Lab
IDEAM(PAPER REPRESENTATIONS): Byldan, Paper Presentation
ROBUSTUS(ROBOTICS): Search N’ Destroy, Robowars, Dog Fight, Bot Wrestling, Virtual Robotics
ACCELERO(MULTIDISCIPLINARY): Wheelomation, Aqualympics, Contraption, The Wright Turn
PROGIDUM: Googler, Sudoku
FASCINUS(NON-TECHNICAL): Flash, Bull Run, The Amazing Race, Bidzkreig, Lan Slam
COGNITO(WORKSHOPS):Stairway to Heaven, HAM, TUX, CNC Lathe, Virtual Robotics
ILLUMINATI(QUIZZES): Chakravyuh, Indikya, Torquest
TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS:
IN HOUSE WORKSHOPS:
- Android App Development
- Creo Workshop
- 3D Game Designing and Virtual Reality
- Fantastic Four
- Hovercraft
- Ethical Hacking
- Hello to Hired
- AdvancedInternet of Things (IOT)
OUTREACH WORKSHOPS:
- Ethical Hacking –Aurangabad
- Fantastic Four — Kolhapur
- RC Nitro Car—Nanded
- Multi touch and Computing Gesture–BATU
- Pradnya Robotics Workshop—Amravati
You’ll find the MindSpark teaser here –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlaONoKlEro
