The IEEE Student Branch of St. Thomas College of Engineering and Technology, Kannur (IEEE SB STM), in association with IEDC STM and the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), successfully organized a One-Day Workshop on Product Design on Saturday, February 22. The session was led by Mr. Abhinav Rajeev, Director of Bumblebee Instruments Pvt. Ltd., and was designed to introduce students to the core concepts of product design, spanning from idea generation to prototype development.

Drawing from his extensive industry experience, Mr. Rajeev provided an in-depth understanding of the design thinking process and the crucial stages of developing innovative, market-ready products. He heavily emphasized the importance of user-centric design, iterative prototyping, and real-world validation, while also sharing valuable insights into overcoming challenges faced during the product development lifecycle. The highly interactive workshop successfully fostered creative thinking and inspired participants to approach problem-solving through a design-oriented lens, making it a truly valuable learning experience for all attendees.

The IEEE Student Branch of STM organized "Design Pulse," an exciting and innovative poster designing competition held on January 24th in the Programming Lab. This event aimed to encourage students to showcase their graphic design skills by applying principles of color theory, typography, and composition. With a prize pool of ₹1000, the competition attracted a diverse group of both IEEE and non-IEEE members, fostering a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. To promote membership, the event offered free participation for IEEE members, while non-members were charged ₹30.

Participants were challenged to design a poster based on a predefined theme within a strict time limit of 45 minutes, mirroring real-world design constraints. This fast-paced, hands-on activity provided a unique platform for students to enhance their creative, technical, and problem-solving skills. Beyond the competition, "Design Pulse" emphasized the importance of effective visual communication, offering a valuable learning experience that deepened participants' understanding of how to convey messages visually for both academic and professional settings.

The IEEE Student Branch successfully organized a hands-on UI/UX workshop for 1st-year students, led by Mr. Navaneeth Narayanan and Ms. Krishnendhu S Nair, over three days: September 10th, 11th, and 12th, 2024. The workshop’s core objective was to introduce essential concepts and practical skills in User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design, utilizing the industry-standard tool, Figma.

The session began by differentiating UI (visual design) from UX (user interaction), covering key design principles such as usability, consistency, and intuitiveness. Participants were guided through the entire design process, starting with user research and wireframing to plan layout and structure. The focus then shifted to practical application, where students gained hands-on experience using Figma to implement layouts, colors, and interactive elements. By the end of the workshop, students had developed a solid foundation in UI/UX design and practical skills in prototyping—creating interactive mockups that simulate user interactions—which will significantly aid their future projects.

A hands-on session focusing on the creation of a solar power plant was led by Dr. Shinu Mathew John, Principal of STM, emphasizing the comprehensive process from initial planning to ongoing maintenance. The setup begins with a crucial site selection step, which requires an in-depth analysis of solar energy reception and the selection of flat or gently sloping land. It is essential to ensure the site is free from obstructions (like buildings or trees) that could cast shadows and reduce panel efficiency.

Once the site is chosen, detailed planning and design are undertaken. This involves orienting and tilting the solar panels at specific angles to capture maximum sunlight. Key components are then connected: energy storage batteries are linked with the panels, along with an MPPT controller and an inverter. After all components are set up, the system undergoes thorough testing for efficiency and safety before being connected to the grid and officially approved. Finally, regular checks and maintenance are carried out to ensure the plant continues to run smoothly and maximize energy production over the long term.

A workshop on "Design and Commissioning of Solar Power Plants (Part-1)" was held on March 15, 2024, sponsored by Sonic Power Solutions. The session was conducted by Dr. Shinu Mathew John, Principal of STM, who successfully engaged attendees by sharing his personal experiences and real-life examples related to solar power. The workshop focused on laying a foundational understanding by explaining technical concepts like voltage and current, and illustrating the components of a solar panel system using a block diagram.

Dr. Shinu Mathew John thoroughly covered the different types of solar power setups, specifically on-grid and off-grid solar power plants, detailing the necessary design considerations and the commissioning processes for each. He emphasized that successful project implementation requires strong collaboration and expertise exchange within the field. Overall, Part-1 of the workshop provided valuable insights and a strong foundation in solar energy solutions, setting the stage for more advanced discussions in future sessions.

A seminar titled "Path to Internationalization" was conducted on March 11, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Seminar Hall 1, specifically aimed at four-year students and IEEE Execom members. The session featured Mr. Shone Jose, the IEEE Kerala Section SAC Chair, who delivered an engaging talk on "Expand Your World, Embrace Global Opportunities." Mr. Jose focused on how IEEE resources and networks can significantly support individuals in achieving their international aspirations. His friendly, interactive delivery style, complemented by a PowerPoint presentation, fostered a collaborative learning environment where he encouraged questions and discussion throughout the event.

The seminar provided valuable insights into various avenues for international engagement, including studying abroad, participating in global conferences, and collaborating with international professionals. Mr. Jose emphasized that IEEE membership serves as a vital tool, opening doors to a plethora of global opportunities, and stressed the importance of developing cross-cultural communication skills. The event successfully equipped participants with the knowledge to leverage IEEE’s support, inspiring them to broaden their horizons and contribute to global technological advancements.

The IEEE Student Branch of STM successfully hosted "Trivia - Technical Quiz Competition," a thrilling two-day event designed to challenge and showcase students' technical expertise. The competition began with an online first round on February 22nd (8:00 PM – 8:20 PM), which saw enthusiastic participation from 61 students. This round featured 20 challenging questions worth 20 marks, assessing knowledge in various technical concepts and developments, and offering participants the convenience of online accessibility.

The top performers from the online round, those scoring above 18 marks, advanced to the second round, held on February 23rd at 1:15 PM in Seminar Hall 1. Sixteen participants entered this final round, which featured an engaging format combining individual challenges to test comprehensive understanding and problem-solving abilities. The quiz covered a broad spectrum of technical topics, including computer science, engineering principles, and emerging technologies. The event was a resounding success, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and healthy competition, and underscoring the importance of continuous learning and intellectual growth within the IEEE community. The first and second place winners were awarded prizes.

The IEEE Student Branch of St. Thomas College of Engineering and Technology Kannur successfully organized an enlightening workshop on Flutter, Google’s open-source UI software development toolkit, on November 11, 2023. The session, held from 9:30 am to 11:35 am, was expertly led by guests Mr. Arjun P J, Mr. Vaishakh, and Ms. Aryasree from Government College of Engineering Kannur. The primary goal was to introduce participants to Flutter's capabilities in building natively compiled cross-platform applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase. Attended by around 31 students, the workshop provided essential foundational knowledge in a supportive learning environment, successfully meeting its objective of educating and inspiring students in the field of modern software development tools.

Beyond the introductory presentations, the session was highly interactive, ensuring participants gained a deep, practical understanding. A significant component of the program was the hands-on experience provided, allowing students to immediately apply what they learned in building cross-platform applications. This practical approach, complemented by clarifying presentations, received positive feedback from attendees on both the content and the utility of the session. The event was a successful endeavor by the Student Branch, highlighting their commitment to equipping students with knowledge of latest tools like Flutter.