Students showcase their creative best at science expo

The one-day Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Award science exhibition turned out to be a platform for students from many schools in Trichy district to prove their science-oriented skills. There was a huge of number of spectators who were inspired by innovations of the students here on Saturday.

As many as 286 students from elementary and higher secondary schools in Trichy district had an excellent opportunity to participate in the exhibition organized by the Tamil Nadu Science and Technical Centre and the district education department in Trichy. Many of their innovations focussed on electricity-related issues prevailing in the state at present.

Unlike previous years, students from government schools came out with a lot of innovations compared to private and aided schools.

K Sinehidhi and her friend Kuzhumani from a government higher secondary school put up a prototype of her project that explained how to efficiently save electricity in streetlights. She installed switches under a platform and they were connected to the streetlights. The lights will glow as soon as a pedestrian treads and it will automatically turn off once he crosses the area. By adopting the method, unnecessary power consumption by streetlights can be avoided.

The duo displayed another innovative project called 'Solar Power Tracking System'. Their teacher V Balasaravanan who guided them said, "In India, solar panels in solar power generation systems are installed facing the southern side only to receive maximum sunlight between 10 am and 3 pm. So, it will not receive sunlight from other directions during the rest of the time. With their innovation, the panel will automatically turn to any direction from which the sunlight falls and capture it for power generation. Hence, it would help generate more power."

An 11{+t}{+h} standard student, K Preethi, from Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Teppakulam, Trichy, invented 'Automatic Temperature Control System'. According to her, the device would be useful for small industries like lathes to ensure safety, increase in production and profit. Though big industries are using the system, it is not simplified for small industries. Moreover, the cost was also very high. So, the new device that can be made for a maximum of Rs 6,000 would be useful for small industries.

A 'Human Detection Live Body Sensor' also attracted many visitors. The device was made by two students from the Panchayat Union Middle School in Inam Thiruppathur, Mannachanallur block. It would be very useful in times of emergency to detect a human stuck under debris. An LED display in the device indicates if anyone is alive under the wreckage.

Tarak Biswas from St Antony's Matriculation School from Thuvarankurichi made 'Lemon Battery' that produces electricity from lemon juice and spent batteries.

Finally, as many as 35 students have been selected for their innovations by a 21-member team. All of them will take part in INSPIRE award state-level exhibition in Coimbatore on September 6.