Ever thought of producing fuel from banana peel? The students of Mahatma Montessori Higher Secondary School, Baba Building, did. Visit the Tech Ville at the school to find out how.
“It works perfectly well like any other fuel,” says Grace Sheela, Physical Science Coordinator (Middle School). “Mix banana peel with husk and dry the mixture. Make tiny bricks and use them as fuel,” she explains.
Other interesting projects were ‘Carbon Smart’, ‘Straddling Bus’ and ‘Vermi Water’.
In line with the United Nation’s International Year of Cooperatives, and the Year of Sustainable Energy, all the four schools of Mahatma MHSS group came together to organise the three-day event.
“Each school worked on a mega project and there were also individual minor projects done by students,” says Jacqueline Vardon, Principal, Baba Building campus.
The K.K. Nagar School worked on nuclear safety and came up with the model of the Koodankulam nuclear power reactor, while the Baba Building school did their project on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The CBSE School displayed their project on hydroelectric power and the Alagarkoil campus students brought out a project on biogas.
“Spiralling fuel prices, scarcity of electricity and water inspired us to work on this biogas plant project,” says K. Kannadasan. “Our product will come in handy at this difficult juncture. All industrial waste, kitchen waste, human and animal wastes could be converted effectively into gas and used as a fuel,” he says. Other members of his team are S. Lokesh, M. Harshavardhan and B. Vignesh.
The ‘Movabaly’ maze developed by L. Sriram Aravind, XI Standard student of the Alagarkoil campus attracted a good crowd. It is a maze drawn on the ground with concentric circles. “When you pass through the maze it works and improves your power of concentration,” he says. A blustery wind blew away models of satellites and launch vehicles displayed out front, according to Jacqueline Vardon, but the mega projects were displayed at the centre surrounded by the individual student projects. There were 36 stalls, each displaying eight to 10 student projects. Most of the projects on display were interesting and eye-catching. The algae in ‘Carbon Smart’ absorbs carbon dioxide from industrial waste and emits pure oxygen. There were also exhibits that used kitchen wastes to produce fuel that can be used for cooking.
Besides, there were working models like the one that desalinated sea water using solar and wind power on the Pamban Bridge.
The programme culminated with inter-school competitions. “The expo is organised to promote better cooperation and interaction,” says Jacqueline Vardon.
