The Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, in association with the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), organized a session on “Design Thinking for Startups and Problem Solving” on 10th September 2025 as part of the Induction Programme for 1st-year B.E/B.Tech/B.Arch students at Srinivas Institute of Technology, Valachil.

The session was conducted by 3rd and 4th year Aeronautical Engineering students, who actively engaged the newcomers with a practical introduction to Design Thinking methodology. They explained the different stages of design thinking such as empathizing, defining the problem, ideating, prototyping, and testing, showing how these steps can help engineers develop innovative solutions for both technical and social challenges.

To make the session more appealing, the seniors presented demonstrations of RC planes. They explained the fundamental principles of aerodynamics and aircraft design, linking theoretical concepts with real-life engineering applications. In addition, the use of simulation tools was demonstrated, helping students understand how software is applied in testing models virtually before moving to real prototypes.

The combination of design thinking principles, startup orientation, and hands-on demonstrations gave the freshers an inspiring outlook on how engineers can transform ideas into impactful solutions. Students also highlighted how teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills are essential not only in academics but also in professional careers.

The session was highly interactive, with first-year students asking questions and sharing their curiosity about design, innovation, and career opportunities in startups. The program succeeded in motivating them to think beyond textbooks and develop an innovative mindset from the very beginning of their course.

The event was meticulously coordinated by Mr. Prakash T and Dr. Niranjan P, Staff Coordinators, with constant support from Dr. Praveen Shenoy, IIC Coordinator, under the guidance of Dr. Sandesh Kumar Rai, Head of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, and Dr. Shrinivasa Mayya D, Principal, SIT.