'voice for BT' (vBT), an intercollegiate public speaking contest on Biotechnology, is a platform for the undergraduate biotech students to voice their opinion on the key role biotechnology can play in solving challenging problems that the nation, and the world is facing in recent times.

The event was hosted at the Jaypee University of Information Technology (JUIT), Waknaghat, Solan (Himachal Pradesh). Participants from 31 different institutes across north India, gathered on September 25, 2015 at the JUIT campus.

The panel of judges included Mr Mads Bjornvad, R&D head Novozymes, Mr G S Krishnan, regional president Novozymes, Mr Divakar Rao, advisor, Life Sciences Sector, Govt. of Karnataka, and Mr Narayanan Suresh, group editor, BioSpectrum Magazine.

Participants spoke on subjects including, 'Importance of Cleaner Environment and the role of Biotech Tools'; 'Application of Agricultural Biotechnology in improving food nutrition in crops'; and 'Importance of waste to energy and the role of Biotechnology'.

Each student was given 5 minutes.

The event was also witnessed by Prof. Samir Dev Gupta, director (Academic) and Brig. (Retd.) Balbir Singh, director (Admn.) of the JUIT, and Prof. R S Chauhan, dean Biotechnology, JUIT Waknaghat.

Ms Prateeksha Kaul, a biotech graduate from Meerut Institute of Engineering & Technology bagged the first prize.

Ms Harmandeep Kaur from S D College, Chandigarh, secured the position of first runner-up followed by Ms Merlit Matthews from Amity University, Jaipur, Rajasthan as the second runner-up.

The winner, Ms Kaul was awarded with a cash prize of Rs 25,000.

The first runner-up was given a prize of Rs 15,000 and the second runner-up Rs 10,000.

The winner and runners-up were also offered an internship at Novozymes R&D facility in Bangalore, for 3 months, 2 months and 1 month respectively.