Five Class IX students of the government high school in Panithittu and their teacher have discovered that at least 1,500 cubic feet of rainwater goes to waste every second in Puducherry.
This team of five has devised a model to save water that overflows from riverbed and ponds to the sea.
The project titled ‘Detailed Study of Drought’s causes in Panithittu Village and Effective Planning and Management of Rainwater wasted into Sea’ bagged the first place at the 12th edition of the International Edition of the Faites de la science programme (‘Make Science’ competition).
R. Gurunathan, who was the guide teacher for the students, said that they were able to build a prototype to save rainwater.
A. Hemavathi of the Pondicherry Science Forum said that the forum and the University of Paris, South 11, in association with the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE) and the Directorate of School Education conducted the Make Science competition.
“This is the 12th edition of the ‘Make Science Competition’ that was exclusively held for the government school students. The winners will receive a cash prize of ₹18,000 and those who bagged the second place will receive ₹6,000. These students will be felicitated on the National Science Day in February, 2019,” Ms. Hemavathi said.
42 projects submitted
Ramesh, treasurer, Pondicherry Science Forum, added that the project began in November, 2017. A total of 42 science projects were submitted by the government schools. “Out of the 42 projects, 12 were short-listed and the students and teachers were given three to four months to submit a detailed reports of the projects. These were sent to the the University of Paris,” he said.
Sylvie Salamitou, who coordinated the programme from France, congratulated the winners and runners up through a video call.
The other projects that won the second place included ‘Analysis of Environmental Issues through Traditional Practices and Identifying the Remedial Meaures,’ by students of Cheddilal Government High School, Abishegapakkam, and ‘Bacteria in Your Toothbrush’ by the Government Middle School, Mudaliarpet.
The child jury prize went to Savarayalu Nayagar Government Girls High School for their project ‘Aquaponics for Water Conservation and Community Development.’
