Ankita Dutt of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Orissa, is Voice for BT East Zone Winner
The 2019 Edition of Annual “Voice for BT” Public Speaking Contest for Biotechnology students, organized by ABLE, was kicked off with the West Zone circuit in Mumbai, Maharastra on September 20, last Friday. The East Zone event was held on September 27, 2019 in the Auditorium, Campus-11, KIIT DU.
From an intensely contested field of 15 good speakers from biotechnology courses across Eastern India, Ms. Ankita Dutt of KIIT School of Biotechnology, Orissa, emerged as the Best Speaker.
Ms. Aayushi Das from Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, also from Orissa was judged the second best speaker in South Zone by the jury. Ms. Tista Mallick from Ramadevi Women’s University, Orissa bagged the third prize.
The participants in this annual contest hosted by Biotech Industry Association, ABLE, has four regional editions (South, North, West, East) and the top 2 winners from each zones contest in the National Finals later in the year. The winners in each zone get cash prizes and a 6-month internship in Novozymes and other biotech companies.
All the enrolled contestants spoke one of the three assigned topics related to the role of biotechnology in providing various benefits to the society.
Chief Guest on the occasion, Dr. Ajay Parida, Director, DBT-run Institute of Life Sciences, urged the students to make use of the supportive environment and come up with innovative ideas to solve various problems facing the country. He urged the students to work on providing access to medicine, solutions to environmental degradation and improve quality of life.
Dr. Vishal G Warke, Director, Cell Culture and Immunology, Hi-Media Laboratories, Mumbai, informed the students about the giant strides made by Hi-Media as a Made-in-India brand with a strong appreciation by international brands.
Mr. Narayanan Suresh, Chief Operating Officer, gave an overview of the dynamic biotechnology industry in the country that has seen the emergency of 2000 startups in the last years. Mr. Suresh also highlighted the key role played by various biotechnological tools those are essential to the growth of the much wider BioEconomy in the country and the world.
Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar, Director, KIIT School of Biotechnology advised more than 100 students and participants from all over East Zone to work hard and innovate to strive ahead. The winners were chosen by a jury comprising Mr. Gautam Das, Mr. Suresh and Dr. Kaveri Das.
Dr. Gautam Das, jury chair and industry leader motivated the students and helped them with tips to face the extempore challenge. He suggested the students to focus on what to say, not to contradict their own viewpoints and feel free. He also shared the examples of how the past contestants have gone out to do well in their careers.