Chennai: The CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), Chennai, in association with Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering (SVCE), Sriperumbudur, organised a two-day workshop on structural engineering on August 24 and 25 under the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative.

The workshop, held at the SVCE campus, was organised for students across all academic years and provided them an opportunity to gain exposure to recent developments, emerging technologies and practical applications in structural engineering.

The CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, a flagship national programme of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), aims to create comprehensive skill-development opportunities by integrating education, practical skill development and real-world applications. The initiative is aligned with the vision of Skill India and the national goal of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The workshop was inaugurated by CSIR-SERC Director N Anandavalli, who delivered an introductory talk highlighting the importance of complementing academic knowledge with practical skills. She emphasised the need for students to understand real-world civil engineering challenges and apply their academic learning to develop practical and innovative solutions.

Scientists from CSIR-SERC delivered technical lectures and interacted with students on contemporary topics covering various aspects of structural engineering, emerging technologies and innovation.

S Maheswaran, Scientist G, provided an overview of the workshop and delivered a talk on Intellectual Property Rights, highlighting the importance of identifying, protecting and managing intellectual property arising from innovation, research and knowledge creation.

V Srinivas, Scientist G, spoke on Structural Health Monitoring, drawing upon practical experience from a real bridge monitoring project. P Kamatchi, Scientist G, introduced participants to earthquake engineering and the fundamentals of earthquake-resistant design.

Saptarshi Sasmal, Scientist G, spoke on developing self-sensing smart structures through nano/micro-scale engineering, while S Vishnuvardhan, Scientist F, delivered a lecture on fatigue-resistant design of steel structures.

S Sundar Kumar, Scientist E, spoke on the design of concrete structures, covering fundamental principles and practical considerations involved in structural concrete design.

The workshop was conducted by Maheswaran and Sundar Kumar under the coordination of R Kumutha, Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, SVCE, and faculty members of the department, with the support of the SVCE management.

The programme provided students with insights into civil and structural engineering, helping bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical solutions through exposure to real-world engineering challenges, field applications and emerging technologies.