IESL YMS Technical Conference 2024: A Platform for Engineering Innovation
By YMS
Colombo, September 29, 2024 – The IESL Young Members Section (YMS) held its annual Technical Conference on September 29, 2024, at GapHQ, Colombo. The event brought together young engineers, academics, and industry professionals to showcase the latest developments in engineering and foster collaboration among Sri Lanka’s future engineering leaders.
The day-long event kicked off at 9:00 AM with the lighting of the oil lamp, followed by a welcome address by the YMS Chairman. The conference featured a keynote speech by Dr. Nishan Dharmarathna, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, who discussed the increasing role of digital transformation and sustainable practices in engineering. His insightful address set the tone for the day, emphasizing the importance of innovation and research in solving real-world problems.
Technical Sessions: A Showcase of Talent and Innovation
The conference comprised several technical sessions covering a wide range of engineering disciplines, reflecting the diversity and talent within Sri Lanka’s young engineering community. The sessions included presentations in Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication, and Computer Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, and Material Science.
In the morning sessions, attendees were treated to cutting-edge presentations, including a study on virtual inertia control for power systems, a review of advanced turbidimeters for water quality monitoring, and food volume calculation using mobile cameras. These presentations highlighted the integration of technology in everyday applications, from improving power system efficiency to using AI for environmental monitoring.
The afternoon sessions focused on Civil and Environmental Engineering, showcasing innovations like dam breach models, techniques for landslide debris assessment, and the evaluation of graphene oxide in concrete corrosion. The event also covered Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, with noteworthy projects such as the design of a self-operative forklift and the development of a scalable wave energy converter tailored for Sri Lanka’s coastal conditions.
Poster Sessions: Inspiring Future Engineers
The poster sessions provided a platform for young researchers to present their findings in a more interactive format. Notable contributions included projects on AI-driven solutions for quality assurance in industrial applications, machine learning for inpatient bed demand prediction, and sustainable concrete mixtures using sugarcane bagasse ash. These posters sparked valuable discussions among peers, mentors, and industry leaders, inspiring new ideas for future projects.
A Glimpse into the Future of Engineering
The IESL YMS Technical Conference 2024 highlighted the remarkable potential of Sri Lanka’s young engineers. The event emphasized the need for continued research, innovation, and collaboration to tackle the challenges of the modern world, from sustainable infrastructure to the adoption of smart technologies.
As the conference concluded with a closing ceremony and evening refreshments, it was clear that the future of engineering in Sri Lanka is in capable hands, with the next generation of engineers ready to lead the charge toward progress and innovation.
