TIFAC

Ms. Pankti Brar, Assistant Professor along with five students—Parveen Rohilla(15073), Puneet Gulati(15076), Paras Thakral(15068), Ayush Bansal(16035) and Abhishek Nehra(16004)) from Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon went to attend the 28th Foundation Day of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), New Delhi on 10th February 2015.

TIFAC is an autonomous organization which was set up in 1988 under Department of Science & Technology Govt. of India to look ahead in technology domain, assess the technology trajectories and support innovation by networked actions in select areas of national importance. TIFAC continues to strive for technology development in the country by leveraging technology innovation through sustained and concerted programmes in close association with industry and academia. The program commenced with glimpses of TIFAC activities by Prof. Prabhat Ranjan , Executive Director, TIFAC. In his presentation, Prof. Prabhat Ranjan informed how TIFAC is engaged in vision, foresight and horizon scanning in technology landscape. The focus of TIFAC is now on Technology Vision 2035, which also identifies 10 grand challenges the country must confront to develop technological muscles and move up in all socio-economic indices. The organization also keeps a watch on the development, breakthroughs and upheavals on the global technology landscape. Horizon scanning is done routinely for feeding forward technology intelligence in foresight activities for India and generating thematic reports assessing potential opportunities and threats linked with technologies showing up on the horizon.

The program further proceeded with an address on technology vision by Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, TIFAC Governing Council and Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST. In the end, there was a panel discussion on the idea of “Future of Brain: A Race between Mind and Machine.” The panelists were well renowned persons including Prof. Prabhat Ranjan, Dr. M Gourie Devi, Former VC of NIMHANS, Prof. Neeraj Jain from National Brain Research Centre, Prof. Narayan Srinivasan, Centre of Behaioural and cognitive sciences, University of Allahbad and Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul, Director, Tibet House, New Delhi.

Attending an event in an organization that’s looking at the technology foresights, motivating new ideas and innovations and providing a platform to budding researchers was a indeed a privilege for the students. The students came to know how technology has made difference in the lives of people. During the event, TIFAC also hosted an exhibition which displayed 3D printing which is a latest technical concept in which the commands are given using a system and plastic is shaped accordingly. The program showcased the future India and the likely technological advancements that may happen like brain-to-brain interfacing, popping in pills to understand unknown languages. Overall, the event was very enriching and knowledgeable.

Some Glimpses: