From smart integrated farming to sustainable bus prototypes, futuristic home security systems enabled by the Internet of Things and upcycling bagasse fruit fibre, young minds showcased an impressive range of innovative ideas at the just-concluded regional and State-level science exhibition hosted by the Directorate of School Education (DSE).
Around 400 scientific models were on display at Sri Maraimalai Adigal Government Higher Secondary School, Embalam, as part of the three-day event. Over 900 students from all the schools in Pondicherry Municipality visited the exhibition.
Apart from the students’ exhibits, the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam; National Book Trust of India, New Delhi; Atal Incubation Centre (AIC)-Pondicherry Engineering College Foundation; Primary Health Centre Karikalampakkam; Sri Aurobindo Society; Department of Science and Technology; Puducherry Police Department; and Tobacco Awareness Programme cell had also put up stalls to pitch their ideas.
The event featured side-shows, including group dance, drama, silambam performance, solo acts, a magic show and instrumental music performances.
According to the DSE, the exhibition, held annually to select young scientists from across the four regions of the Union Territory, is held as a two-stage competition — regional and State-level.
This year, the main theme, ‘Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future’, encompassed sub-themes spanning physics, chemistry, mathematics, earth science, environmental science, engineering, bioscience/biochemistry and computer science.
During the regional round of the competition for Puducherry region, a total of 55 participants were selected for the State-level science exhibition, comprising 8 prizes for students at primary level, 12 prizes for middle-level students, 12 prizes for secondary-level students, 8 prizes for higher secondary-level students and 15 prizes for exhibits of school teachers.
The overall championship (Rotary-Midtown) went to Muhamed Tajdeen H, a Class X student of Vivekananda Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Villianur, with Varalakshmy as his teacher-guide. The regional-level winners competed at the State-level, along with the winners of the regional rounds held in the Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam regions at the same venue on January 6 and 7. The following students came out as toppers in the primary, middle school, high school and higher secondary categories, earning the privilege of participating in the Southern India Science Fair to be held from January 21 to January 25 in Puducherry.
Teachers also won mentor awards for the best exhibits. The Ilango Adigal Government Higher Secondary School, Muthirapalayam represented by Devan B of Class XI, guided by Sriram S. bagged the overall championship for the exhibit ‘Automatic Roof Top Solar Panel Cleaner’. This exhibit had also been chosen for the Integra Rolling Trophy at the higher secondary level. The other winners were Eshana Faten, student of Class V, Excel Public School, Mahe (primary); Sanjeev V, Class VII student of The Pearl Middle School, Karaikal (middle school) and Dheepak G, Class IX student of Aditya Vidyasharam HSS, Poraiyur (high school).
According to the DSE, the jury assessed the students across multiple categories on the basis of student’s creativity and imagination, originality/innovation in the exhibits/model, scientific thought/principle/approach, technical skill/workmanship/craftsmanship. Other factors such as cost, scalability, portability/durability and socially viable nature were the other metrics.
The upcoming science fair will be organised by the DSE in coordination with Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, Bengaluru, which is a constituent unit of the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture.
Published – January 10, 2025 09:12 pm IST
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