A short course on Seismic Design of Steel Structures under the National Programme on Earthquake Engineering Education (NPEEE) was inaugurated on Monday, 16 May 2005 at IIT Kanpur. It is a five day training programme (16 – 20 May 2005) being conducted by IIT Kanpur for faculty members from different engineering colleges and polytechnics across the country and practicing engineers. About forty four faculty members and eight professional engineers from all parts of the country are undergoing this training. The course was inaugurated by Professor S.C. Koria, Head, Centre for Development of Technical Education, IIT Kanpur. The course is being conducted by Professor C.V.R. Murty and Professor Durgesh C. Rai of the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur.
Professor Koria in his inaugural speech mentioned about the excellent opportunities being provided by IIT Kanpur through continuing education programmes. He further mentioned about the growing national emphasis on seismic design to protect loss of lives and stressed the need for dissemination of knowledge available. He hailed the efforts of group of faculty members in the area of earthquake engineering at IIT Kanpur. Professor Bithin Datta, Head, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur presented the profile of civil engineering department and asked the course participants to utilize their visit in full and interact with faculty members of different specialization in the department. Professor Sudhir K. Jain, the National Coordinator, NPEEE mentioned the progress of the training programmes being undertaken by other IIT’s and IISC. Bangalore and express his satisfaction on the progress being made in this important area. He mentioned that there is a continuous efforts being made for the systematic capacity building in the area of earthquake engineering and cited the outcome of efforts by IIT Kanpur group in knowledge dissemination on seismic design of reinforced concrete building and bridges. He also mentioned that the present course on seismic design of steel structures which is basically the repeat of the similar course conducted about six months back is a step forward considering the nation’s requirements.
Professor C.V.R. Murty, Course Coordinator welcomed the course participants and informed them about the unique features of the course and the work being done at IIT Kanpur in the area of earthquake engineering. Professor Durgesh C. Rai mentioned about the stability aspect of steel structures and the experts like Professor Ashwini Kumar available at IIT Kanpur. Professor Rai also proposed the vote of thanks.
Venue is Pioneer Batch Continuing Education Centre (PBCEC), Visitor’s Hostel at IIT Kanpur campus.