Topics such as social sustainability of improving productivity through technological advancement, calculation of power consumed by the institute, and bicycles sponsored by a large corporation are only one part of Shaastra 2009, the annual tech festival conducted by Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

Annually, about 250 science and technology institutes receive invites for Shaastra. But this year, there were 325 invitees, including names such as Loyola College from Chennai and Nalsar Law College from Hyderabad, and a host of other pure arts colleges.

“The best part is that engineers and science students debate the sustainability of innovating in order to produce more,” says Sriram, a student co-ordinator of Shaastra. This big-ticket event, conducted completely by students, has exceeded budgets of Rs 1 crore and attracted multinationals. “This year, we have had some big names such as Boeing and Airbus as sponsors ,” Sriram says.

“Boeing and Airbus, of course, couldn’t miss it when we are conducting a professional air show for the first time ever this year.”