This year, twelve of our students were among 1197 winners at the INSPIRE Awards MANAK* conducted by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. Fifty-five of our students who participated drew inspiration from past winners, found encouragement from caring teachers, and developed a sprightly resolve to think of innovative ideas that would bring victory and honor. Their triumph qualifies them to create a prototype and flesh out their ideas.

In this newsletter, read about their top-notch ideas, born in response to their desire to improve an individual or social situation.

* INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) Awards MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge)

“Seeing our school aunties and local farmers toil to make the place leaf-free and pest-free gave me this idea. The diesel engine or motor-powered device will absorb leaves like a vacuum cleaner, and the grinding wheel will powder the leaves that can become plant food.”

“I wanted to create more sustainable e-charging hubs that encourage e-vehicle usage. Upon depositing plastic waste in the machine, the user will get charging credits for their e-bike proportionate to the weight of the plastic waste.”

“Watching videos on the travails of clove harvesting set me thinking of a solution. My device consists of a long stick with a bottle, grabber, and camera to provide a real-time view of cloves high up in the tree. The display panel at the bottom of the stick will allow the farmer to target and pick the cloves with ease.”

“Seeing a wheelchair-bound person dining out in discomfort made me wonder how they cook, and it triggered an idea. My chair comprises omnidirectional Mechanum wheels and a height adjustment mechanism connected via Bluetooth for seamless movement.”

“My scooty’s fuel indicator inspired the idea to fix a pressure gauge indicator in the gas regulator to show the gas level inside the cylinder. Normally, the pressure inside the cylinder decreases as the gas level decreases, and pressure resistance indicators provide accurate gas level readings.”

“I urgently wanted to find a durable, eco-friendly solution for the free local bus ticket for ladies in Tamil Nadu. My proposal of a hardy biodegradable pass made of 3D filament will reduce ticket wastage and foster a greener environment.”

“Witnessing hazardous chemicals dumped in the Noyyal (river) made me devise a countermeasure. I conceived of sensors to detect dangerous water and airborne chemicals that trigger a siren for the locality and alert the municipality when it exceeds permissible limits. A filtration device near the sensor will continuously separate harmful chemicals and waste from the water.”

“Every day, seeing my mother struggle to separate soil from swept domestic waste made me want to simplify her chore. I designed a sieved dustpan to allow the collected soil to strain through with ease.”

“I noticed that mothers often struggle to manage housework and baby care, so I thought up an idea that fuses both tasks. It is a practical solution that addresses the concerns of childcare and household cleanliness.”

“Watching movies and the news triggered the creation of the life-saving device. The watch is designed with a sensor and GPS to provide an automatic health alert to family members and emergency services.”

“Farmers struggling to lug bananas and dealing with nagging shoulder pain led me to think innovatively. To bridge the distance between harvested banana bunches at the grove to the nearest vehicle, I designed a gear-wheeled trolley moving on a customized gear path.”

“To minimize employee engagement at my father’s restaurant, I thought of the idea of an automated or mechanized dining table that will dispose of the leftover banana leaf of the last customer via a button or touch sensor into an enclosed bin.”