first TEDx conference during Engineer 2011, and many influential speakers of the region were invited to talk on socially relevant issues. From the year 2018, Engineer has also hosted its annual NITK Model United Nations conference where the committees focus on various pressing issues around the globe and have a committee which focuses on the theme of the fest. Student organizations Technical clubs Major national and international technical societies have set up local student chapters at NITK. They include Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), the Institution of Engineers (India), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) (formerly chartered to Computer Society of India), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has an active chapter constituted by Mechanical Engineering students. NITK has two racing teams which participate in SAE BAJA and international FSAE races. The Flying and Robotics Club (FARC) of NITK is a group of hobby RC and robot enthusiasts. Their annual flagship event 'Wright Flight' attracts participants from all over Karnataka. a Members involve in presenting seminars on various levels of robotics to participating in renowned tech-fests like Techfest, IITB, Shaastra, IITM, etc. As of 2017, a team of students participate in Robocon India representing the college. NITK has a Linux Users Group, which along with the WEB Enthusiasts Club promotes FOSS and Linux. The Engineers' Forum for Entrepreneurship Awareness (E-FOREA) encourages entrepreneurial ideas from students and promotes leadership and entrepreneurship on campus. E-FOREA is now renamed as Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell). E-Cell hosts an annual Entrepreneurship Summit (E-Summit). The latest edition of E-Summit was held from 15 to 17 January 2021. The Amateur Astronomy Club (formerly the Star Gazing Club) conducts star-watching shows for the students and faculty. It also happens to be the oldest club in NITK. Cultural clubs The Rotaract Club conducts social, cultural and technical events for the students and club members alike. These include blood donation camps, clothing donation drives, coastal clean-up camps, and events conducted by the National Service Scheme (NSS) chapter of NITK. The Mangalore chapter of the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth (SPICMACAY) is centered at NITK and is one of the biggest chapters in the country. It organizes concerts and lectures by maestros of Indian classical art forms and strives to raise awareness of Indian culture in the surrounding regions