Student-Chapter Activities: Civil Engineering Department

The Civil Engineering Department of Don Bosco College of Engineering (DBCE), Fatorda, successfully hosted the installation ceremony for the student chapters of the Indian Water Works Association (IWWA), Indian Concrete Institute (ICI), and Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS). The event provided a platform for students and faculty to interact with industry professionals and celebrate the induction of newly appointed student councils.

The ceremony began with a welcome address by Ms. Clarita De Souza, followed by the lighting of the lamp by esteemed dignitaries, including Chief Guest Mr. Kishan Mangeshkar (DBCE alumnus and Business Development Manager at Infra Market), Rev. Fr. Kinley D’Cruz (Director, DBCE), Dr. Kala Nayak (Registrar), Dr. Shwetha Prasanna (HOD, Civil Engineering), and senior engineers from PWD. Dr. Shwetha Prasanna highlighted the role of professional societies in bridging academia and industry, while Rev. Fr. Kinley D’Cruz emphasized leadership and collaboration in engineering education.

Prof. Prachi Dessai, Ms. Shruti Jhambhale, and Mr. Jefferey Valadares conducted the formal installation of the student core committees for IWWA, ICI, and IGS, respectively. The newly appointed chairpersons then outlined their vision for the academic year. Chief Guest Mr. Mangeshkar shared insights from his professional journey, stressing the importance of industry-academia collaboration. He was felicitated with a memento as a token of appreciation. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Liam Mendes (IWWA Secretary, DBCE).

Technical Sessions and Competitions

In the afternoon, a session on “Sewage Treatment Plants: Process, Operation, and Maintenance” featured insightful talks by industry experts Shubham Dhawaskar (JE), Sai Pradad Parab (JE), Pratap Jadhav (SFC Environmental Technology), and Harish Javvaji (AE). The session concluded with discussions on best practices in wastewater management. Additionally, IWWA organized a paper presentation and short film competition, judged by Mr. Viraj Patil. Winners:

• Paper Presentation: 1st – Ms. Clarita De Souza (BE Civil), 2nd – Mr. Loxley Dias (TE ECS)
• Short Film: 1st – Mr. Faizan Akabani (TE COMP)

Day 2 Events

The “Mix It Up” Mix Design Competition, organized by the ICI Student Chapter, provided hands-on experience in concrete mix design. Coordinated by Asst. Prof. Mrs. Shruti Jhambhale and Ms. Freida Sequeira, the event awarded prizes of ₹2000/- and ₹1500/- to the top two teams:

• 1st Place: Ms. Akanksha Nagvekar & Mr. Omvittal Raikar (TE Civil)
• 2nd Place: Mr. Rajat & Mr. Reuben (BE Civil)

The IGS Student Chapter Quiz Competition tested students’ geotechnical knowledge through rounds like MCQs, Rapid Fire, and Buzzer Round. Winners:

• 1st Place: Ms. Priya Vales & Ms. [Name] (SE Civil)
• 2nd Place: Mr. Manfred Silva & Mr. Vidal Naik (SE Civil)

The Photography Competition, judged by Mr. Umesh Kulkarni (Retired Chief Engineer, PWD Goa), showcased geotechnical themes. Winners:

• 1st Place: Ms. Priya Vales (SE Civil)
• 2nd Place: Ms. Clarita De Souza (BE Civil)

The two-day event successfully combined technical knowledge, creativity, and competitive spirit, fostering student engagement and industry readiness.