Kerala - Kozhikode   

Young talents display their skills

Staff Reporter

Theme of the fair this year is `Science and technology in rural development'

INGENUITY: A participant at the State School Science Fair currently under way in Kozhikode exhibits a working model of a machine to spray pesticides on arecanut trees. The machine is controlled by a remote device. Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

KOZHIKODE: Science and technology projected in models and its benefits and ill effects staged in theatre are the highlights of the 39th State School Science Fair and associated fairs being held in Kozhikode from December 5 to 8.

Save the farmer, conserve energy and water sources, exploit renewable sources of energy at no cost, stall pollution were some of the themes of the exhibits.

If Aswati Soman and Aswati Thangachan students of standard VII of St. Joseph's School, Arakkuzha, Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district were professing for the cause of tapioca farmers, S.P. Abin and Badusha Mishal of Ikarappadi AUP Basic School, at Vennayur in Malappuram district had a working model of a cost-effective solar water heater that would exploit the abundantly available solar energy.

The Aswati duo explained how tapioca, available in plenty in Kerala, could be turned into value-added products, including potion from the readily available tuber for common ailments, and manufacture of cattle feed. ``Even the leaf of the tapioca can be cooked into a delicacy," they explained as they exhibited sachets of `thoran'.

The young minds had been touched by a number of social concerns— plight of farmers in the State, depleting water sources and energy as many of the working and still models and research type projects as revealed at the R.K. Mission Higher Secondary School, Meenchanda.

The theme of the science fair this year round was `Science and Technology in rural development'.

The model of Jisna Unnikrishnan and K.V. Harishankar of CH Memorial HSS, Elayavoor in Kannur district projected the simple and speedy processes for extracting natural essence from vanilla beans to benefit farmers.

Models of waste water treatment plants, solar cookers, biogas and biodiesel manufacture, besides projects for conserving ponds to save a grama panchayat from water scarcity and protest coast from sea erosion, were some of the exhibits that evoked interest.

The organisers said 74 models were being exhibited in the high school and upper primary sections.

Seven teams — winners at the zonal level, participated in the science plays, which were staged on the occasion.

The teams could base their play on one of the five topics suggested.

In addition, quiz contest and Talent Search Examination for high school students were conducted today. In the IT fair, six contests were conducted on Tuesday.

The work experience on-the-spot three-hour contests held at the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Meenchanda proved to be an occasion to showcase the art and skill of the young participants.

Dolls, puppets, soft toys, clay artefacts and bamboo craft vied with each other projecting the abundance of talent of the participants.

Contests had been held in 48 items, including sheet metal and wood work, wood carving, coconut shell products, doll and puppet-making, and soft toys, in which students from 37 educational districts participated, publicity convener Yusuf Korath said.

The prize money for the winners has been hiked this year.

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