Villa College proudly hosted its first "International Conference on Sustainable Materials & Advances in Renewable Technologies" (SMART’24) today at the Villa College QI Campus. Organised by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, the conference provided a dynamic platform for the exchange of cutting-edge knowledge, innovative strategies, and best practices. It addressed the most pressing issues and groundbreaking solutions in sustainable materials and renewable technologies, ensuring that participants are equipped to adeptly respond to global demands.

The conference brought together students, academics, researchers, and experts from diverse backgrounds, including various agencies, colleges, universities, research institutions, as well as government and private sector professionals. They were invited to present their research findings, tactical strategies, technical innovations, cutting-edge technologies, and best practices that address the pressing need for groundbreaking solutions to today’s complex issues.

The event officially commenced with the arrival of the Chief Guest, Special Envoy for Climate Change Ali Shareef, followed by the recitation of the Holy Quran by Ali Mushfiq Mohamed Shareef, Admin Officer of Villa International High School. Udhuma Abdul Latheef, Head of School, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Villa College, delivered the opening remarks. In her opening remarks, she highlighted the pivotal role of sustainable materials in driving innovation, the importance of renewable technologies in addressing global challenges, and our commitment to fostering collaborative research in these fields.

In his Keynote address, Special Envoy Shareef highlighted that while there have been remarkable efforts to generate renewable energy through solar and wind, ocean resources remain underutilized for energy production. He emphasized the crucial need for countries like the Maldives to harness ocean resources to generate hydroelectric power. Shareef pointed out that due to the Maldives' small land area, relying on solar panels is unsustainable given the growing population and capacity demands. Therefore, he asserted that the Maldives must strive to enhance its energy production by using the available resources.

The conference featured two keynotes. Dr. Alankrita Singh delivered a keynote on "Battery Thermal Management System of EVs - Fostering Sustainability in the Transportation Industry," followed by a closing keynote on “Towards Sustainable University Residences: Comprehensive Energy Audit, Retrofit Techniques and Financial Implications” by Dr.Vengadesh. Professor Ir Ts Dr Vengadesh is currently the Director of Research Management Centre (RMC) & Head of Department for Electrical and Electronics Engineering under School of Engineering and Computing at Mila University, Malaysia.

During the event, 40 papers were presented on the theme "Sustainable Materials & Advances in Renewable Technologies." Of these, 12 papers were presented in physical, while 28 were presented online. Two presenters received best presenter awards:

• Priyam Kashyap Samah from IIT Bhilai, India, for her paper "Bamboo: A Sustainable Choice for High-Performance Composites."

• Ahmed Nasir, a student of Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours) at Villa College, for his paper "Exploring the Benefits of an Adaptable Smart Dorsum Exfoliator for Senior Citizens of Maldives."

In her closing remarks, Dr. Nafeena Abdul Munaf of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology expressed her heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made the event a resounding success. She praised the students for their insightful research, innovative ideas, and thought-provoking discussions, and thanked the honored guests and keynote speakers for their engagement and contributions, which enriched the sessions and fostered a collaborative spirit. Special thanks were extended to Dr. Joseph Emmanuel from IIT Delhi and Dr. Joe Patrick from SMTEC, the collaborators from India, with anticipation of future collaborative projects. In her speech, she acknowledged the event coordinators, Dr. Ramchand, Ms. Aishath Minha and Mr.Amish. She also expressed her gratitude to the evaluators and moderators, Dr. Lokesh, Dr. Sivakumar and Mr. Salavutheen, for their contributions to the conference. She extend her heartfelt thanks to all the executives, especially the Rector, for his invaluable feedback, and to the participants. She expressed a special note of gratitude to the Vice Rector, without his guidance, this event would not have been possible.