The Hindu : National : It is not only eco-friendly but also affordable

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Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007
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National

It is not only eco-friendly but also affordable

Pramod Mellegatti

Another exhibit was a model on ‘Effect of music on the growth of plants’

WINNER: An ‘eco-friendly coach’ designed and fabricated by Ankit S. Divekar (left) and Varun Jois.

SHIMOGA: An innovative model titled “Eco-friendly coach” designed and fabricated by Ankit S. Divekar, a ninth standard student of Jnanadeep School at Javalli near Shimoga, is among the best 20 exhibits displayed at the National-level CBSE Science Exhibition held in Delhi on September 26 and September 27. Point-wise it stands first among the best 20 models.

The theme of the exhibition was “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development” and the model was adjudged as the best in the sub theme of “Transport and Communication”.

The model was also adjudged the best at the South Zone CBSE Science Exhibition held at Chennai on August 21. Eighty schools from eight States displayed 160 models in the South Zone exhibition.

It was the imaginative concept of Ankit to make an eco-friendly conventional vehicle at an affordable cost that resulted in the planning and fabrication of his award-winning model which he did after improvising it several times. He was assisted by his classmate Varun Jois in his venture.

According to Ankit, the coach is designed and fabricated with discarded material. It cost Rs. 7,000. The four-wheel vehicle fitted with the usual bicycle wheels can move at a speed of 15 kmph to 20 kmph carrying four persons. The use of any kind of fuel is dispensed with as it gets power through manual operation.

Apart from it, Ankit says, the physical and mental stress gets divided among its occupants. While the front seat operator manages the speed and direction of the vehicle, the driving power is provided by occupants in the back seat by pedalling.

A battery-operated tail lamp, horn and fan are fitted to the vehicle.

Ankit says that the vehicle, which weighs about 170 kg, is ideally suited for carrying schoolchildren. It is not only eco-friendly and non-polluting but also economical. “As such a ride in the coach provides adequate physical exercise in addition to joy and excitement,” he says.

Another exhibit of the school which came in for commendation at the South Zone CBSE Science Exhibition was a model on “Effect of music on the growth of plants”.

The model was prepared by Varsha B. Patil and Abhishree, both of the ninth standard, and Chandana Upadhyaya, Supreeta and Shreya Mallesh, all of 10th standard.

The model showed how bean seeds planted in 50 pots on the same day grew differently under the effect of music — classical music, jazz music and recitation of Omkara (Om). The pots were formed into four groups when the seeds sprouted into leaves and they were kept at a distance of 50 feet from each other.

Music was played for two hours in a day. The first group of plants were played a recitation of Omkara, the second classical music, the third jazz music, while the fourth were not given any musical support.

They were given an equal measure of light and water and were kept under close scrutiny by experts. At the end of the eighth week, the four groups gave different results. It was found that the pots kept under the influence of the recitation of Omkara registered the highest growth.

The two exhibits were prepared under the guidance of T.S. Ramkumar and Reshma M. Nadaf of the school.

School secretary V. Devendra has congratulated the schoolchildren.

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