Karnataka - Udupi   

Enthusiasm and confidence of students evident at BrainQuest

Attractions: Some of the robots on display at BrainQuest 2008 in Udupi.

Udupi: You could not help noticing the enthusiasm displayed by the 300 students participating in the fifth annual Udupi district science and technology fair, BrainQuest 2008, here on Saturday.

Some of the mechanical exhibits at the two-day fair include a power crane, an air tower, a hand-held DC generator, a dynamo flashlight and an ice-cream machine.

The robots on display include a singing Elvis Presley, a Robopanda, a dragonfly robot, a water detecting robot, and a life-like baby Pleo.

According to Poornima Kamath, Director of E-Skool which has organised the fair, 20 schools and 74 teams are participating in the fair. Competitions include strategy games, puzzles and soap-making.

“We want students in particular and the public in general to take an interest in science and technology. They should understand the field of robotics. We have conducted courses in spoken English for students of government schools so that they can participate in such fairs and competitions with confidence,” she said.

Students confidently explained the models they had made. Rainwater harvesting and shrimp farming models can be seen.

Students have also displayed their crafts and stamp and coin collections.

Deeksha, a ninth standard student of Ajjarkad Government Composite School, said, “They taught us how to speak confidently in public. I feel confident after participating in this fair and explaining the models to the public. It has given me a better perspective of science, technology and robotics.”

Shruthi Ballal, a tenth standard student at the same school, said that she was participating in the fair for the third time. She has displayed her crafts, and coin and stamp collections. “Such fairs kindle our interest in science,” she said.

At the soap-making competition, students not only had to make soap, but also come up with a slogan to market it. They had to explain the ingredients used and the economics that went into its production.

Jyothsna, a ninth standard student of Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar, said that she enjoyed participating in the soap-making competition.

“I have come here for the first time. I enjoyed seeing the models displayed at the competition,” she said. Ms. Kamath said, “We have been exposing students in schools such as Little Rock Indian School and Sharada Residential School to the field of robotics by taking 30-hour classes. We want students to develop marketing skills and recycling habits.”

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