Dr. jitendra Singh Felicitates 18 Children Scientists for their Accomplishment at the International Science & Engineering Fair-Los Angeles, USA

Introduction

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, D/o Atomic Energy and S/o Space Dr. Jitendra Singh today felicitated   18 children scientists for their accomplishment at the International Science & Engineering Fair-Los Angeles, USA here in New Delhi. He applauded the innovations of the students and said there is a need to drive innovations at schools level. The minister were informed that these students have been  given an opportunity to interact with Scientists, Professors and other Eminent Guest and showcase their respective projects.  The following members of Team India won the awards at ISEF 2014.

1. Abhishek Verma and Daksh Dua from Maharaja Agrasen Public School, New Delhi won the First Award of $3,000 in the Animal Sciences category, and the Cultural and Scientific Visit to China’ with an Award of $8000.00 for their project entitled ‘Rubus ellipticus: An effective solution against Giardiasis’.

2.  Kopal Gupta and Shreya Nandy of the Amity International School, New Delhi won the First Award of $2,500 in the ASU Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives category, and the Fourth Award of $500 in the Chemistry category for their project ‘A Unique Kit for Detection and Removal of Pesticides from Fruits and Vegetables’.

3. Debapratim Jana, South Point High School, Kolkata won the First Award of $500 in the Patent and Trademark Office Society category for his project ‘Multi-layered Phytopigments: Promoting Alternative Materials for Solar Cell Development’. 

4. Representing the “Vivekananda English Medium School, Puttur”, Deeksha Hebbar won the Second Award of a $500 U.S. savings bond from the Ashtavadhani Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty Foundation, and the Fourth Award of $500 in the Animal Sciences category for her project ‘Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale):  An Effective Treatment for Cattle Dermatitis’.

5. Jaya Sagar, Government Senior Secondary School- Manali, also won the Second Award of $500 U.S. savings bond from the Ashtavadhani Vidwan Ambati Subbaraya Chetty Foundation, alongside the Fourth Award of $500 in the Plant Sciences category for her project ‘Brassica juncea (Mustard) Flowers to Attract Pollinators for Better Malus domestica (Apple) Yield’.

6. Animesh Tripathi, Sanskriti School, won the Google CS Connect Award of $5,000, and the Fourth Award of $500 in the Computer Science category with his project ‘Optimizing Digital Content for Color-Blind Audience Using Enhancement Algorithms’.

7. Fourteen-year old Amrit Sahu from DAV Public School won the Fourth Award of $500 in the Engineering: Electrical and Mechanical category for his project ‘VOICE-O-NATOR: An Aid for the Speech Impaired’.

8. Arjun Rao Hurulihal from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Dharwad on project ‘A Novel metal complex as anticancer drugs’.

9. Abhishek Mitra from National Public School, Bangalore on project ‘Research Engine natural language processing’.

10. Shailpik Roy and Prachatos Mitra from South Point High School, Kolkata on project ‘Mammography image analysis to ease detection of micro calcification’.

11. Prajwal Shivanand form Vagdevi Vilas School, Bangalore on project ‘Patterns in random numbers’.

12.  Vasudev Malyan from Lions Public School, Delhi on project ‘Keratinase Waste- An Effective Management’.

13. Saad Nasser from Clarence High School, Bangalore on project ‘Exploring fast, lean and efficient ways to interconnect many processors’.

14. Ram Mannath and Aishwarya Vinod Nambiar from Sishugriha Montessori & High School, Bangalore on project ‘Quest for a bio-degradable alternative to plastic/wax coated paper cups’.

On this occasion Dr. B.P. Singh, Head NCSTC, Department of Science & Technology, Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director, Indo-US Science & Technology Forum and Mr. Gregory Bryant, Vice President and General Manager, Intel Asia – Pacific and Japan highlighted the significance of the programme and underlined the need to motivate students beyond ISEF.

Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science (IRIS) is a joint programme of Department of Science & Technology, INTEL India and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The primary objective of coming together is to promote and nurture research amongst young Indian innovators at secondary and higher secondary levels. It recognizes and rewards outstanding research projects and offer platforms to interact with some of the best scientific minds in the country and abroad. 

This partnership has tried its best to enhance the outreach of the programme in the last 8 years.  The finalists of all mega national fairs – Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition (NCERT), Science Exhibition by National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), CBSE Science Exhibition and National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) by NCSTC, Department of Science & Technology participated at IRIS national fair at Bangalore.  Approximately 3 million students were engaged during 2013-14.    

Team India performed very well at INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2014 held during May 12-16, 2014 at Los Angeles, USA.  A group of 18 Indian school children competed with 1800 students drawn from 78 countries and won more than a dozen awards including 2 minor planets named after them.  Out of 13 awards won by Team India, one was under best subject category award, 7 grand awards and 5 special awards.             

In addition to this DST has partnered with Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) to organise 5 days post ISEF visit of Premier Research Institutions and organizations in California and San Francisco, USA to provide exposure to the US establishment of Science and Technology.

Source

Press Information Bureau, July 31, 2014