Young scientists of Wayanad script a success story

STELLAR ROLE: The Plus One students of SKMJ Higher Secondary School, Kalpetta, put up a dazzling performance at the 21st National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) held in Bhopal recently. The team along with their teachers.

The five-member team of SKMJ Higher Secondary School scripted a success story at the 21st National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) 2013, which concluded in Bhopal recently.

This was the only team from the State that scored A Plus grade in the seniors’ category.

The three-day congress was organised by the National Council for Science and Technology (NCST).

The national-level winners would get fellowship and an opportunity to spend over two weeks at premier science institutions in the country.

The theme for this year was ‘Energy: Explore, Harness and Conserve’.

The SKMJ school was one among the top 20 among the 650 theses presented by various teams from different States.

The team comprised Sneha Ganga, Kavya Manohar, Kavya Ramesh, Vishnu Prasad and T.S.Vyshnav, all Plus One science stream students.

The team has been invited to participate in the Indian Science Congress to be held in Jammu from February 3 to 7, said Sudha Rani, Principal, SKMJHSS.

The project submitted by them was a study to enhance the efficiency of biogas plants by the inoculation of a particular kind of bacteria isolated from the dung of wild gaur, which proved to be more efficient than the ordinary cow dung, said K.S. Syal, chemistry teacher at the school and guide of the project.

It is assumed that the artificial feed may inhibit the growth of methane-producing bacteria which inhabit in the rumen of domesticated cow, said Joseph John, scientist, M.S..Swaminathan Research Foundation, Puthurvayal, who supervised the project.

The strain of bacteria that is isolated from the dung of the gaur has the ability to produce more methane gas. Now it is possible to increase the production of biogas by 25 per cent in biogas plants.

The thesis pointed out the significance of conserving forests and its biodiversity in the world heritage site of Western Ghats, Mr. Jose John added.

The students would be felicitated at a function to be held at the school auditorium at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday, Ms. Sudha Rani added.

City boy for SGFI nationals

Sports Department of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant felicitated Y. Veerababu, student of Visakha Vimala Vidyalayam (Balacheruvu) on Tuesday on being selected to Andhra Pradesh under-14 kabaddi team for the School Games Federation of India National championships to be held in Bhopal from December 16. Veerababu worked hard and could gain a place in the State team in spite of his family’s poor background. AGM (sports) of VSP M.S. Kumar, other sports department officials felicitated Veerababu.