Besides showcasing their skill in fabricating scientific models on latest technological advancements, students had portrayed in excellent fashion the reasons behind the recent flood in Chennai in the science exhibition organised on behalf of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiya (RMSA) at Palayamkottai on Tuesday.
The exhibition, organised by the RMSA with the objective of nurturing scientific attitude among students of government schools, had attracted over 50 exhibits that covered a range of topics including environmental degradation, conventional and non-conventional energy sources, information technology, life sciences, sports, activity-based learning etc.
One of the exhibits, displayed by students P. Harikrishnan and J. Augustine of Bharathi Government Higher Secondary School, Veeravanallur, explained in detail the reasons behind the recent flood that wreaked havoc in Chennai.
“The State capital that had 650 lakes till 1980 to receive any quantity of rainwater had only 27 lakes in 2008 due to rampant encroachment. As these lakes are being meticulously destroyed for commercial purposes, even these 27 existing lakes are facing serious threat. The sprawling Pallikaranai marsh was converted into a garbage dump first and then sliced into small housing plots or used for constructing apartments and commercial complexes. The greediness of a few was the reason behind the agony of a few lakh population,” the students said.
Students of Periyar Government Higher Secondary School at Cheranmahadevi had displayed their model that narrated the problems faced by human beings due to environmental degradation. The importance of linking rivers to deal with the perennial issue of flooding during monsoon and drought-like situation during summer, charging the mobile phone by pedalling the bicycle etc. were some of the models that attracted the attention of the visitors.
Students of government higher secondary school from Radhapuram who had witnessed intense anti-nuke agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project had displayed nuclear reactor models and explained the advantages of nuclear energy.
Collector M. Karunakaran inaugurated the one-day science exhibition in which Chief Educational Officer R. Swaminathan and other senior officials of Department of Education participated.
