Building Community Through Technology: Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (SPIT) Student Chapter Report

The IEEE Computer Society at Sardar Patel Institute of Technology united students through a vibrant array of events that combined learning, innovation, and enjoyment. From engaging ice-breaking challenges and cybersecurity competitions to thrilling city-wide treasure hunts and intensive 24-hour hackathons, every initiative fostered collaboration, creativity, and a strong sense of community. These highlights demonstrate how the student chapter continually inspires active participation while building a culture of curiosity and technical excellence.

Brain Drain

On October 15, 2024, IEEE Computer Society hosted Brain Drain, the much-awaited introductory event for the first-year batch of 2024-2025. Revamped with new twists, the event blended quirky coding challenges with unconventional rules, living up to its tagline: logical questions, illogical rules. Participants had to think fast, adapt to surprises, and, above all, have fun.

Registration was open to individuals and teams, making it accessible for all. The challenges tested analytical thinking with logic and coding puzzles, requiring no advanced technical background so every first-year could join in.

A truly memorable moment occurred when a random number-21-was selected and the participant in that leaderboard spot won a special prize, regardless of performance. The last five participants also received playful “punishments,” turning the leaderboard’s bottom ranks into sources of laughter and lasting memories.

The event drew an energetic crowd, with a prize pool of ₹4,000.00 awarded to both top performers and those in unexpected positions, keeping the awards as unpredictable as the event itself. Brain Drain succeeded in welcoming new members, sparking connections, and setting the tone for a year of engaging, innovative activities.

Case Crux

As part of Computer Security Day, the IEEE Computer Society at SPIT hosted CaseCrux, a high-stakes cybersecurity case study competition. The event gathered problem-solvers from various colleges to tackle real-world security challenges with strategic, actionable solutions.

The two-round competition began online, with teams submitting solutions by January 20, 2025, testing their ability to analyze and address complex cybersecurity problems. Finalists then presented their cases to a judging panel, defending their approaches with clarity and technical depth.

CaseCrux proved to be a vibrant platform for exploring cybersecurity, blending technical rigor with professional presentation. With a prize pool of ₹10,000.00, the event fostered collaboration and prepared participants for the evolving tech landscape.

Tech Race

On February 22, 2025, Mumbai became the backdrop for TechRace 2025, presented by OCULUS in collaboration with the IEEE Computer Society SPIT. As Mumbai’s Ultimate Treasure Hunt, the flagship event brought together city-wide adventure and brain-teasing clues, challenging teams to race for a prize pool of ₹75,000.00.

TechRace kicked off with online campus hunts, offering winners discounted registrations and coveted Power Cards-special advantages like “Freeze,” “Invisibility,” and “Skip a Location” that added strategy and suspense to the main event.

On race day, participants used public transport and their wits to navigate the city, solving clues and reaching checkpoints monitored by volunteers. The winner wasn’t the team with the highest score, but the first to reach the final destination.

The event ended with cheers and camaraderie, proving TechRace to be a true test of intelligence, endurance, and teamwork, all set amid Mumbai’s vibrant energy.

AIRAVAT 2.0: The 24-Hour AI Hackathon

In April 2025, AIRAVAT 2.0, the IEEE Computer Society SPIT’s signature AI hackathon, returned bigger than ever. This 24-hour marathon challenged participants to build AI-powered solutions under pressure, offering a prize pool of over ₹1 lakh plus food and accommodation, drawing talent from across the country.

Problem statements spanned AI/ML, Web & App Development, and Blockchain, with teams choosing their challenges on a first-come, first-served basis. The atmosphere buzzed as teams brainstormed, coded, and strategized late into the night.

Submissions were judged on creativity, technical depth, feasibility, and impact by a panel of industry experts and academics. Beyond the prizes, AIRAVAT 2.0 delivered an intense learning experience, fueling collaboration, rapid prototyping, and professional growth, and cementing its place as a standout event in the academic hackathon scene.