Here
at IIT Kanpur, we run an informal internal seminar series we call our Mechanics Tea. In fact, several
beverages are served.
It
is a faculty members only affair, perhaps in part so that
the discussion can dwell at length on things we do not understand!
Faculty
members recently involved in it are Sumit Basu, Sovan Das, Anurag Gupta, Shakti Singh Gupta,
V Shankar (of Chemical Engg), Basant
Sharma, Ishan Sharma, Mahesh Sivasambu,
Pankaj Wahi and myself. Other faculty members are free to join.
We
meet about once a week, for approximately one hour (sometimes stretching to
two).
One
member leads the discussion, which means he tries to present some topic that is
new to several members sometimes including himself,
typically using the chalkboard. There is some friendly joking, and frequent
interruption. Incomplete understanding is expected and welcomed, and a good
time is had by all.
The
mechanics tea is a great forum for both technical interaction and continuing
education for its members.
If
you are a potential visitor and would like to give a talk in our mechanics tea
(I assume you do not mind being frequently interrupted by people who know less
than you), let me know and I will try to set it up.