30 teams from around world at IIT Techfest

If you want to know how important the endangered polar bear may be to treating osteoporosis, head straight to the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay this weekend and listen to Dr Eric Chivian, reports Snehal Rebello.

If you want to know how important the endangered polar bear may be to treating osteoporosis, head straight to the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay this weekend and listen to Dr Eric Chivian, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985.

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At the Techfest this year — the institute’s annual international science and technology festival — Chivian, founder-director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment, will address students on the impact of climate change on human health.

You can also listen to Dr Spencer Wells, director of National Geographic, who has been studying the genetic prints of people from all over the world to establish the migratory history of humans.

To be held from January 24 to January 26, Techfest will attract 45,000 students from over 1,500 colleges across India. In its 11th year, the three-day festival will host 100 events.

“We have a record participation of more than 30 teams from countries like Sri Lanka, Dubai, Denmark and Australia,” said Varun Patil, media coordinator, Techfest.

The festival will have exhibitions that will occupy 50,000 sq ft of space, competitions on solar-legged robotics, exhibits from the Royal Science Society and Arizona State University’s Mars Rover Project.