Elephant lock to green gym: Science talent to the fore (Second Lead)
By Richa Sharma, IANSWednesday, January 5, 2011
CHENNAI - Ever thought of locking the legs of a rampaging elephant? Or shedding extra kilos at a ‘green gym’ that produces power? Or generating power from plants? These are some of the innovative ideas of over 3,000 students at the Children’s Science Congress near here.
A part of the 98th Indian Science Congress, the children’s event is showcasing about 80 projects which were selected after a three-month-long national competition. The event is being held at SRM University, some 40 km from Chennai.
Projects like the elephant controlling machine, green gym, using coconut shells to construct roads, power generation from paddy plantation, innovative windmills and modern solar energy are drawing thousands of delegates and students.
“I come from Kerala. There have been many incidents of damage caused by elephants. I have devised an elephant lock to be fitted in its tummy. The locking system will have a remote control,” Ajith M., a student of the Government Polytechnic in Wayanad, told IANS.
His project not only locks the legs of an unruly elephant but also injects it with tranquilizers.
M. Devi Prasad from Biswambhar Bidyapeeth, Puri, has an equally interesting project-generating power while at gym. The ninth standard student has developed a ‘green gym’ using pulleys that includes a treadmill as well as other exercising equipments that will produce power while people sweat it out.
“The green gym generates electricity unlike conventional gym which uses electricity. The electricity produced can be used for charging mobile phones and other gadgets,” Prasad said while demonstrating his treadmill.
The students’ projects have left the delegates impressed.
“These are mind blowing. They have put in so much of effort and are so well updated about the scientific principles related to their projects. I am really happy that we have so much talent in science,” said V.K. Varma, a school teacher.
The students are also excited. They have an opportunity to interact with scientists.
“I am attending the Science Congress for the second time. It’s such a good experience to interact with scientists like C.N.R. Rao and Venkatraman Ramakrishnana who are my science icons,” said M. Zhulfia, a Class 11 student from Navy Children School, Port Blair.
The exhibition has representation from all states and union territories and the best project will be awarded at the end of the Children’s Science Congress Thursday.
The Children’s Science Congress was inaugurated Tuesday by Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, the Indian-American scientist who works with Cambridge University and won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2009 along with two other researchers.
The Indian Science Congress was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday. The Jan 3-7 event is seeing a participation of over 7,000 delegates and 3,500 students.
(Richa Sharma can be contacted at richa.s@ians.in)
