NIT Rourkela is one of the premier technological institutes in India and has moiled to make its way into the top 601-800 universities in the world (as per Times World Ranking). Recently, NIT Rourkela had the honor to host the National Conference on Waste to Energy, Carbon Capture, and Storage (NCWECCS 2017). This conference was systematized by Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

It was a three-day conference, which was inaugurated on 3rd August and continued until 5th August. On an inaugural day, there was a pleasant and amusing light music session; the "Sarod Music Concert" by Sri Debanjan Bhattacharjee at BB Auditorium. Honorable Vice Chancellor from Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyalaya was the esteemed chief guest for the inaugural function.

NCWECCS 2017 was convened by Dr. S. Murugan (Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering) & Dr. P. Balasubramanian (Assistant Professor, Deptartment of Biotechnology and Medical engineering). Keynote lectures were given by Scientists like Dr. A.G. Mattani, Dr. Venkata Mohan, Dr. Shyamala Mani, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Dr. Suneel Pandey, Dr. B. J. Allapat, Dr. Thallada Bhaskar, Dr. Kakoli Banerjee and Dr. Rajnish Kumar. Mr. P.K Pattajoshi from NALCO and Mr. Parthasarathi Panda from OPGC were invited who shared their experience in the sector**. Additional District Magistrate Smt. Monisha Banerjee (IAS) graced the occasion of valedictory function as the guest.** The conference was sponsored by renowned industries in and around Odessa like Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC), B. Engineers and Builders Pvt. Ltd., B.S Minerals and Industries, Minz Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. and Sanmedico Pharmaceuticals.

Pollution is now a burning topic; it has affected not only the humans but the entire ecosystem to the maximum extent.This conference had provided the platform for discussion on the most relevant topics on pollution and its control among 80 students from various disciplines of elite institutes. Organic wastes are largely disposed of every year, their accumulation in air increases anthropogenic gases that lead to an increment in global warming potential (GWP) which can be controlled by waste to energy (WtE) or energy from waste (EfW) methods. These methods include a process of generating heat in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste. Combustion of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide (CO2) which escalates GWP. Carbon capture and storage/sequestration (CSS) is the method of capturing CO2 from large point sources, transporting it to a storage site and depositing to prevent entry into the atmosphere. The conference illuminated on the above topics, along with the following, but not limited to: Alternative fuels, Algal technology, Control of anthropogenic gases, Composting, Incineration, Gasification, Energy/fuels from municipal solid waste management, Power generation from organic wastes, CO2 recycling, Green energy and many more.