AT PU

UIET team wins first prize in Robowars

PU Junkies,a team of six third-year mechanical engineering students of UIET,Panjab University,created history by winning the first prize in the Robowars competition held recently at Techfest hosted by IIT-Bombay. Panjab University Vice Chancellor Professor R C Sobti and UIET Director Dr Renu Vig congratulated the winners on their arrival on Tuesday. Sobti announced that Panjab University will bear the expenses for developing Blade — the robot that had won the first prize. The winning team has collectively raised funds to procure parts for assembling the robot,which has many industrial applications like cutting metals and cleaning floor. The team members will be honoured at a valedictory function in Chandigarh Science Congress-2011,being organised in February.

Memorandum against ban on paranthas

A memorandum signed by 70 students was submitted to Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof R C Sobti,demanding immediate lifting of a ban on paranthas at the Department of Botany’s canteen. Sobti has recently banned paranthas by citing health reasons. “We strongly condemn this decision and have no hesitation in calling it foolish,nonsense and funny. There is resentment among the students regarding this ban,which the V-C had issued verbally. If challenged in a court,it cannot stand the test of equity and fairness,” said Sunny Mehta,president of National Student Union of India,who submitted the memorandum on behalf of the students. “Paranthas have been the traditional Indian breakfast since generations. If the V-C is really concerned about the health of the students,he should consider banning Coke and Pepsi,which contain pesticides,” said a student.

Delegates from UK varsity hold lectures

In a series of special lectures held at the University Institute of Legal Studies of Panjab University,the first lecture was delivered by Kevin Lamoureux,member Canadian House of Commons. Kevin raised important issues like immigration,justice,labour,finance,education,food security and community policing. The second lecture was presented by Professor Dermot Cahill,Dean of Bangor University Law School and deputy head of the university’s College of Business,Social Science and Law and Aled Griffiths,lecturer in law at Bangor University. Cahill delivered a talk on “Recent reforms of the UK Constitution and Price Fixing Decisions in the European Union”. The series was of interest to BA LLB (Hons) students,as it help them understand how they can study in UK.

Two-day seminar on public health ends

The two-day national seminar on “Sustainable Development and Public Health in India”,organised by the Centre for Public Health of Panjab University,concluded on Tuesday with several delegates participating from public health institutions across India. The experts who spoke on the occasion included Professor Suman Kapoor (BITS,Hyderabad) Dr Anita Kar (University of Pune),Dr Neena Gupta,(Christian School of Health Sciences,Allahabad) and Dr V K Tiwari (NIHFW,Delhi). The discussion ranged from health system research,public health policies,research and technology in development of public health,sustainable public health systems,adolescent rights and occupational hazards.