Theme: Connect the Dots

TEDxVITPune is an university level TEDx event held at Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune. With the successful execution of the first two events, with eminent speakers from varied fields such as literature, medicine, entrepreneurship ,etc, who stayed true to TED’s vision of “ Ideas Worth Spreading”, this year we plan to make our event bigger and better. This year the event will be conducted on 15th April 2017. We make an effort to ensure a stellar event experience and match up to the standards we have managed to achieve in the past two years.

Our theme for this event is “Connecting The Dots”. It is an idea which is relevant to every aspect of our life, whether it is scientifically, literally or philosophically. Our experiences, our failures, our qualities, our shortcomings, our interactions with the people around us are equivalent to the dots which make up the complete picture: Our Personality. The individual connections and interaction of the several organisms, is what ultimately makes up the world. So the idea is its true sense is the basis for existence, and this year we plan to explore the significance of the connections which design the world around us.

Watch TEDxVITPune 2017 talks on: https://goo.gl/Zn6Eqc

Vishwakarma Institute of Technology
Upper Indira Nagar, Bibwewadi
Pune, Maharashtra, 411037
India

Akshai Varde

Bike-Designer. Entrepreneur. Traveler.

We live in an age where most of the products are produced in bulk and while mass production has its own benefits; it often takes away the individuality and beauty that each product is capable of. A self-taught designer and entrepreneur, Akshai Varde founded Vardenchi at the age of 25 in the year 2005. Today Vardenchi has single-handedly designed and sold the highest number of custom built motorcycles in the country. He seeks to bring back the culture of craftsmanship, where every product is a work of art. A recipient of The Young Entrepreneur Award from the Maxell Foundation, Akshai has given talks regarding motorcycle design at institutions such as IIT Bombay and SPCE (Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Mumbai). During his talk we are bound to gain insights into the “Art of Engineering”, about how he integrates his passion for art and his knowledge of engineering in developing customized bikes.

Anand M

Environmentalist. Trainer. Consultant

M Anand is a IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) accredited Green Building Professional, He is a Principal Counselor and a team member of the Indian Green Building Council at CII, Hyderabad. He has work experience spanning over 25 years in his field. He has been involved in helping Architects, Builders and Corporates in designing sustainable built environment. Thus far, he has helped more than 150 clients in incorporating green designs in building design & construction. Alongside counseling, he has also conducted more than 200 training programmes for professionals on green building concepts all over the country, as well as in Singapore and Dubai. He has worked on several International projects with bilateral agencies. He has also been closely associated with the World Green Building Council (World GBC) activities, for over a decade and presented in World GBC forums in Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Hong Kong. He has represented IGBC in various forums in India & abroad. He was one of

Aniruddha Sen

Designer. Filmmaker. Photographer.

Aniruddha Sen, Oni, is a graduate of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and has directed over 500 television commercials. Oni’s approach to filmmaking is an extension of his background in visual arts. He is not just a storyteller, but also a photographer, designer and illustrator. The visual refinement in Oni’s films are a result of his sensitivity to aesthetics and meticulous detailing. The distinct quality in his films comes from his handling and understanding of human emotions, as well as his skill in finely unfolding narratives. Apart from working as a filmmaker, he also spends time as a visiting faculty at NID, Ahmedabad & ISDI Parsons, Mumbai. Oni has just finished working on his debut documentary feature titled ‘The Saints of Sin’ that he both shot and directed.

Devendra Jani

Leader. Mentor. Nature-Lover.

An alumnus of IIM – Calcutta, Devendra Jani is currently is a Product Owner in the Open Network Unit of Amdocs India, providing Telecom network management consulting and solutions to leading telecom providers in Asia-pacific, Europe, and the Americas. He balances his work-life with active volunteering; He is an Executive member of Blossom team (Amdocs India’s CSR Program), Mentor for Queen’s Young Leaders, Community Leader for Mentor Together’s Pune chapter, Shaper at Global Shapers Pune (A World Economic Forum Initiative) and volunteer at Swacch Pune Swacch Bharat. ‘Bee-The Lead’ is his initiative to share Leadership experiences and promote Bee conservation. As part of Bee-keeping training, He realised that there is a lot to learn from Nature and shares interesting facts about these fascinating creatures. Bees matter to all of us and we need to ensure we do our best to have a Bee-friendly city. He says “Bees are to be loved and not feared”.

Geetanjali Tomar

Scientist. Professor. Innovator.

An INSPIRE faculty at the Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Pune University, Dr. Geetanjali Tomar is a leading scientist in the upcoming field of Stem Cell Research. Her notable Phd thesis on methods of extracting stem cells from teeth, as opposed to bone marrow, received much applause from the scientific community. Dr. Tomar’s research interests lie in the increasingly relevant fields of Cancer Research, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology. In her talk, Dr. Tomar will seek to better inform the attendees about a well-known and heavily debated application of genetic engineering-‘Designer Babies’.

Mahesh Kale

Singer. Teacher. Engineer.

An alumnus of Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Mahesh Kale is a world-renowned vocalist who has firmly established himself as the face of Indian Classical Music of the new generation. In 2015, he won the “National Film Award for Best Playback Singer” for a classical piece in the Marathi film, ‘Katiyar Kaljat Gusali’. He is a disciple of the legendary Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, and has performed with world famous percussionists including Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu and Sivamani, and instrumentalists like Pedro Eustache and Frank Martin. Mahesh is determined to spread awareness and education about Indian classical music, and has given lecture-demonstrations in various US universities including Stanford and Harvard University. He currently teaches music to a student body of over two hundred in the San Fransisco Bay Area.

Sachin Sanghe

Micro-sculptor. Software Engineer. Art Enthusiast.

Sachin Sanghe is a self-taught micro sculpture artist. He is currently a Software Engineer at Cisco Systems India Pvt Ltd,Bengaluru.His passion towards art is truly unique as he creates intricate and detailed designs, by sculpting pieces of chalk and pencil lead. During the course of the past few years, he has managed to impress and baffle the spectators with chalk/lead sculptures of eminent personalities Sachin Tendulkar, Micheal Jackson, Amitabh Bacchan, and of monuments such as Taj Mahal, Hampi Stone Chariot, Gomteshwara among several others. His talent has been highly appreciated in several exhibitions held across the country and he has conducted workshops in reputed colleges in India such as IIT Bombay. He was recently titled the “Star of the Month” at MTV presents Nescafe Labs-A platform for experimental, unique and fresh talent, across India. He has coined the term CHALKruthi for his artform and calls it his way of "reaching milestones using lime stones".