LUDHIANA: The Science Lab of Guru Nanak Engineering College (GNEC), Gill Chowk, was the venue of a state-level
science exhibition by students of government schools, which concluded on Saturday. Eleven models were selected for the national Inspire awards on Saturday, while 12 were selected for the National Science Awards in six different categories.
As many as 256 students from 22 districts participated in the three-day exhibition, while 107 students competed for the Inspire (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) Award. Out of the 107 models, 11 were selected for the national-level science exhibition. From Ludhiana, as many as 16 students participated in the exhibition, and six are competing for the Inspire award. State nodal officer Jyoti Soni, Noshad, and Priyanka from the Department of Science and Technology were also present.
A mobile control robot, a disaster-resistant building, and low-cost agricultural devices were the main attractions. Judges from SCD Government College — Deepak Chopra, Bhupinder, and Neelam — inspected the models, and the judgement was given on Saturday. District science supervisor Balwinder Kaur said: “Though science should ideally be taught through observations and demonstrations, it has for many years been limited to lectures in the classroom, especially in schools located in far-flung areas. As a result, students often have to learn by rote, and effectively end up learning not much. It is no surprise then that they often find lessons to be difficult and boring. On any occasion that a student is able to put up a demonstration, it is not participatory — the other students simply watch, and have little opportunity to discuss the models and their working.”
Some of the Inspire awardees were: 1. Kadar Khan, Fathegarh, Solar robot. 2. Simranjeet Kaur,
Jalandhar, Rain switch to project grain. 3. Urmila, Fazilka, Urban farming mall.
Some Science Fair models selected for the national science exhibition were in Health and Wellness: Sandeep Kaur, Amritsar; Jaspreet Kaur, Kapurthala. Food and Resource Management: Lavjeet Singh, Gurdaspur; Rajan Sharma, Roopnagar. Transport and Communication: Ritika, Ludhiana; Vipinjit Singh, Kapurthala.
INNOVATIVE MODELS
Spy camera named Mobile Control Robot
Kuber Arora, a student at GD Goenka Public School, Amritsar, showcased his spy camera named mobile control robot. The camera can capture any movement till a distance of 3km and can be controlled through android phones, iOS, and desktop computers. Not only can it be used as a spy gadget, but also as a bomb- finder, keeping an eye for Border Security Force (BSF). It can be controlled from anywhere, and even at night, it has LDR (Light-Dependent Resistor), which can automatically sense darkness and turn on the camera. Arora said: “The user can control the camera through his electronic gadget. The device can record high quality video even at night, and can also record sound as well.”
Diversifying farming along railway tracks
Poonam Rani from GSSS Kandhwala Amarkot, brought up the concept of diversifying farming along railway tracks, keeping the problem of increasing population in mind. She said: “We can grow more than two crops in a field according to its length. We can grow timber trees on the sides of railway tracks. Timber will provide extra money. Fruit trees can be grown and transported through train in cold storage bogies. In between two villages, water storage tanks and compost drums can stored. Precisely, a farmer will be busy earning the whole year. On the sides of rail tracks, we can grow potatoes or turmeric plants. In case one crop is destroyed, then the other will bring in money.”
She added: “We can also do cattle farming from agricultural waste. Animal waste can used for production of biogas, which can be used for making food at home. Its slurry can used as compost. Along with that, poultry farming and fish farming can also be done. The waste of fish is full of nitrogenous products, which is good for fields. Additionally, apiry can also be done in fruit fields. Land for agriculture is reducing. The expenditure on farming is totally out of the means of poor farmers. So, they are committing suicide. If we apply diversified farming, we can come out of this problem.”
Renewable energy from evaporating water
Vishaldeep Singh from Government Senior Secondary School, Bahaur village, showcased a model of renewable energy from evaporating water. The basic aim of the model is to save water and produce electricity by eco-friendly means. The moisture of evaporated water can be absorbed by bacterial spores, and power of maximum 325GW can be generated. He wants to replicate the model in the Golden Temple, Amritsar, as the monthly bill there touches Rs1 crore, with nine lakh units consumed. Vishal said: “If we can install this technology at the sarovar, we can produce a maximum of five lakh units a month, and the best part is it can be used in a dry environment.”
Urban step farming mall
Urmila Rani from GSSS Khuian Sarwar, Fazika, made an urban step farming mall for a production-controlled environment with no transport costs and less storage cost. This model is going to overcome shortage of agricultural land with a provision of crop rotation, and it ultimately leads to more oxygen for urban areas.
BOX 2
SELECTED FOR NATIONALS
Some Inspire models selected for national science exhibition
1. Kadar Khan, Fathegarh, Solar robot
2. Simranjeet Kaur, Jalandhar, Rain switch to project grain
3. Urmila, Fazilka, Urban farming mall
Some Science Fair models for national science exhibition
Health and Wellness
Secondary: Sandeep Kaur, Amritsar
Senior Secondary: Jaspreet Kaur, Kapurthala
Food and Resource Management
Secondary: Lavjeet Singh, Gurdaspur
Senior Secondary: Rajan Sharma, Roopnagar
Transport and Communication
Secondary: Ritika, Ludhiana
Senior Secondary: Vipinjit Singh, Kapurthala
