Representational Photo

IIT Kanpur has become India's first educational institution to have a supercomputer, its Director Indernil Manna said on Tuesday."The supercomputer was set up in the institute on June 3. It is world's 130th supercomputer, fifth in India and the first one to be established in an educational institute," Professor Manna said in a press conference in Kanpur, on the eve of the institute's 46th convocation ceremony on Wednesday."The supercomputer will help the institute in carrying out researches in the fields of aerodynamics, weather and biochemistry," said Professor Amlendra Chandra of the chemistry department, who is looking after the supercomputer.Professor Manna said the institute is working on several projects like the cleaning of the Ganga river and creation of an "unmanned mechanical bird".He said the unmanned bird will help in surveillance and aerial photography.Professor Manna said a team of the institute on Tuesday went to meet the Central government regarding the Ganga River Basin Management Plan for the cleaning of the river.

About the convocation ceremony, Professor Manna said a total of 1,273 students will be given degrees on Wednesday.