Four school students, including two from Tamil Nadu, will represent India at a global science fair to be held in the United States soon. The students have been chosen for their simple yet valuable science projects aimed at improving the lifestyle of people.
The names of M. Tenith Adithyaa of Virudhunagar, D. Anjanei, Chennai and Mansi Darsania and Rachadiya Kaidwi of Rajkot were announced at the end of a day-long Indian Science and Engineering Fair at Agni College of Technology at Thalambur. Organised by Science Society of India, the day-long event was a culmination of regional events held across the country over the past 6 months.
Bananas, better bricksTenith Adithyaa of Hindu Higher Secondary School, Watrap in Virudhunagar district, received a gold medal for his project on preserving banana leaves for a longer period than usual without the use of chemicals. The leaves will retain their green colour much longer and can be preserved for as long as a year.
He has already received an award from National Innovation Foundation for a project on an adjustable electricity extension board, said his father V. Mavel Rajan.
Mansi and Rachadiya of Shri G.K. Dholakiya School, Rajkot, Gujarat, who also won a gold medal, worked on ‘plastroband bricks’ made from plastic waste that would have a wide variety of applications and also, withstand higher compression than conventional kiln-burnt bricks.
Anjanei, a student of Chettinad Vidyashram, Chennai, received the third gold medal for his project ‘algae substitution for conventional products and processes. These four students would represent India at I-Sweep – International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, Environment) world science fair, with their trip fully sponsored by Agni College.
Speaking on the occasion, H. Devaraj, Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission, said had the organisers approached them, the UGC too would have been glad to sponsor the students’ trip to the United States.
More accountabilityFunds were not a problem any longer he said.
He also said there was a need for better accountability in all fields of activity. S. Gomathinayagam, Executive Director, Centre for Wind Energy Technology, Syed Munir Hoda, former bureaucrat and now adviser, Agni College of Technology, Narayan Iyer, president of Science Society of India and Arnab Bhattacharya of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research spoke on the occasion.
Vishnu Jayaprakash a former representative of India at I-Sweep was also present.
