National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) is a platform, adopted by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India to encourage the children for creating their innovation. Inspiring with this objective, the students of Fatepur High (H.S.) School of Haringhata block, Nadia district, West Bengal have been presenting science projects since 2010 in NCSC. The science projects carried out by the students of age group 10-17 years of this school under the guidance of the author of the present study for participation in NCSC were analyzed. So, content analysis was the qualitative research method here. The reports of fifteen projects on different theme and sub-theme were considered in the present context, to know the scientific studies done by the students, innovation behind it and the social impact of the works. One of the major findings of the present investigation is that one project was selected for Indian Science Congress – 2014 and five projects were presented in national level. The number of project works presented in state and district levels were six and three respectively.
The important innovation made by the students of this school through NCSC are‘electricity generation from Parthenium and water hyacinth’, ‘Arsenic quantification by guava leaf’, ‘Effect of simulated acid rain on rice growth’ etc. Some works, in this context were with immense social implication i.e. the result of the study can be used to solve few local science-based problems.These projects definitely gave positive impact on students mind to develop scientific temperament as well as to initiate further science innovations.
Key words: NCSC, Fatepur High (H.S.) School, innovation
1. Introduction
1.1. The National Children’s Science Congress
National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) is a unique movement of science popularization in our country, infusing scientific temper, spirits of scientific enquiry and innovative research through systemic observation and analysis among children in the age group of 10-17 years.It was adopted by National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) and Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Prodyogiki Sanchar Parishad (RVPSP), Department of Science and Technology (DST),Government of India.This programme was launched nationwide in 1993 with an expectation that it would generate scientific temperament among the teachers and students, and spread among various stakeholders of our educational system. That’s why NCSC was recognized and accepted by National Curriculum Frame work 2005.
The primary objectives of the National Children’s Science Congress are:
1. To exhibit student’s creativity and innovativeness and more particularly their ability to solve a societal problem experienced locally using the method of science.
2. This involves close and keen observation, raising question, building models, predicting solution using experimentation, field work, research and innovative ideas.
This is an open platform of childrenof 10-17 years.There are two age groups viz. 10-14 years (lower age group) and 14+ – 17 years (upper age group).Generally there are three levels of participation of child scientists in this curriculum. The completed project works are first presented in district level where best one fourth projects are selected for the next level i.e. state level. In the same way some projects (according to state quota) with best merits are qualified from each state and union territory to participate at national level. In every two years a focal theme is announced for the CSC. The children are expected to carry out projects related to focal theme and the identified sub-themes under a guide teacher.A time limit of eight minutes is given to the child scientists to deliberate their work orally with the helpof four charts. The best two projects (one from junior group and another from senior group) fromeach state and union territoryare qualified to demonstrate their work in Indian Science Congress.
1.2. Science Innovation and NCSC
On the other hand, innovation means new idea and its practical application through scientific method. Any scientific discoveries or invention is very much interrelated with individual’s innovativeness. Hence, NCSC may play important role to explore the science innovation of children. During the project work of CSC the children have to gather practical data through survey or observation or experimentation. Hence, they can verify their concepts with hands on experiments. They also can co-relate book based knowledge with real life problems which may leads to innovation.
2. Objectives
In the present investigation, innovativeness of some selected students of Fatepur High (H.S.) School is come out through theNational Children’s Science Congress during the course of the project work. So, the specific objectives of the present study are –
1. To explain the scientific studies done by the students of Fatepur High (H.S.) School during the completion of NCSC projects since 2010 to till date.
2. To understand the scientific innovations which are came out through the NCSC project works.
3. To know whether these innovative works have any positive social impacts or not.
3. Methodology
The content of the NCSC projects, prepared and presented by the students of Fatepur High (H.S.) School were analyzed in the present study.
3.1. Preparation of project
Fatepur High (H.S.) School is a government sponsored higher secondary school which is situated at Haringhata block of Nadia district, West Bengal. The projects of NCSC were prepared by the students of this school under the guidance of guide teacher with the following steps –
3.2. Analysis of NCSC project work
The science projects carried out by the students of age group 10-17 years of this school under the guidance of the author of the present study since 2010 for participation in NCSCwere analyzed. So, content analysis was the qualitative research method here.
The reports of fifteen projects on different theme and sub-theme were considered in the present context, to know –
(i) The scientific studies done by the students,
(ii) Innovation behind it and
(iii) The social impact of the output of the works.
4. Findings
The major findings, observed during the analysis of the above mention content are as follows:
Project – I
Title:Assessment of plant diversity in Fatepur High (H.S.) School campus, Nadia, west Bengal.
The plant diversity of school campus was carried out by quadrat method. The habit, habitat, family, medicinal parts used and medicinal utilities of different plant species were measured along with relative frequency and relative density of different plant species. Seventy three species including herb, shrubs, under-shrubs, climber and trees belongs to 39 families and 14 plant species were with medicinal uses. Apart from these threespecies of Pteridophytes and two species of Bryophytes were also surveyed.
Project – II
Title:Effect of Arsenic-induced toxicity on seed germination and early seedling growth of PhaseolusmungoRoxb. (Black gram) and Brassicanigra Koch. (Black mustard)
Germination percentage, germination index and relative germination rate were found to be decreased with increasing concentration of Arsenic both in case of black gram and black mustard. Germination was totally inhibited when 4mg/L Arsenic concentration was used and it was 2mg/L in case of black mustard. The length, fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot of both the plants were reduced significantly due to Arsenic induced toxicity.
Project – III
Title:A simple bio-method for elimination of Arsenic from water using Guava leaf
Extracts of guava leaf was mixed with aqueous Arsenic solution and kept for one day. Leaf extract react with Arsenic and sedimentation was appeared. After removing the sedimentation by filtration, the Arsenic content of the filtrate was measured. It was found that approximately 60% Arsenic was eliminated by this method. Common villagers may utilize this method to remove arsenic from drinking water by pitcher-filter.
Project – IV
Title:Studies on transpiration and photosynthetic rates of some rice varieties
The transpiration as well as photosynthetic rates of five common rice varieties were measured to evaluate a variety with maximum photosynthetic rate but minimum transpiration rate. So, the variety will consume less energy but earn more. It was found that IR64 variety was most suitable sofar, the energy efficiency was concerned.
Project – V
Title:Preparation of bio-voltaic cell from the extract of different plant parts
Electricity was generated from no cost plant materials like peel skin of vegetables, Akashmoni leaf, flower of Marigold and Togarand star fruit. The extracts of this plant parts were used as electrolytes whereas traditional zinc anode and carbon rod as cathode were used. Maximum 11.06 V electricity and 26.74mA current were generated.
Project – VI
Title:Comparative analysis of different varieties of Indian mustard based on photosynthetic rate, yield and irrigation
Photosynthetic rate, irrigation, yield and oil content of five leading mustard varieties (Punjab Rai, Agrani, Chhotna, Binoy and Boran) of West Bengal was taken as parameter to evaluate a best variety. Irrigation and yield were determined by survey of farmers. Data on oil content of seeds was taken from local “ghani”. The photosynthetic rate was determined by ‘leaf disc method’. It was found that Agrani and Chhotna were the best varieties to cultivate in Haringhata block.
Project – VII
Title:Electricity generation from Parthenium and Water Hyacinth using bio-voltaic cell
Electricity was generated from environmentally hazardous plant Parthenium and water hyacinth using bio voltaic cell. Plant extracts of these two plants and their mixture were used as electrolytes. Traditional zinc anode and carbon rod as cathode were used. Maximum voltage and current were produced in case of mixture of both the plants which were 4.66V and 18.20mA respectively. This bio voltaic cells were used for charging mobile, operating radio, electronic wall clock etc.
Project – VIII
Title: Studies on variation of different components of weather between Barajaguli and Fatepur of Haringhata block
Comparison of different weather parameter like rainfall, temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind direction and sky conditionwere made between a sub-urban (Barajaguli) and rural (Fatepur) area of Haringhata block. Anemometer, rain gauge and wind vane were prepared by the students. Significant variation of weather data was observed between the two sites though the distance between the two places is only 6km.
Project – IX
Title: Effect of simulated acid rain on seed germination and growth of rice plant
Rice seed germination, germination index and relative germination rates were affected when acid rain solutions with pH 5.0 or below 5.0 were used. The length of root and shoot of rice seedling were also decreased when simulated acid rain solutions were treated. The effect of acid solutions on the growth of rice plant in connection with length of plant, number of leaves per plant and fresh and dry weight of shoots were also studied. The values of all parameters were decreased due to the effect of simulated acid rain.
Project – X
Title:Effect of simulated acid rain on the pollen germination and pollen-tube growth of pumpkin (CucurbitamaximaDuch)
The pollen germination and pollen tube growth of plants are very much crucial so far, the fruit setting is concerned. It was found that the growth of pollen tube as well as the pollen germination were badly affected by simulated acid rain of below 4.0 pH. In pH 2.5 the pollen germination rate of pumpkin was nearly stopped. Same trend was noticed in case of pollen tube length.
Project – XI
Title:Effect of different light on the seed germination and early seedling growth of pigeon pea (Cajanuscajan L.)
It was found that seed germination and early seedling growth of pigeon pea were greatly influenced by the colour of the light used. Red light was more effective than white, blue, green and yellow for both the cases. Red light increases seed germination as well as seedling growth of pigeon pea.
Project – XII
Title:Effect of Arsenic-induced toxicity on seed germination and seedling growth of few rice varieties
Seed germination and growth of different varieties (G.S. 2, IR 64 and M.T.U. 1010) of rice plants were greatly affected by arsenic induced toxicity. The effect was more severe when 4.0 mg/L or more concentration of arsenic was used. The overall effect of arsenic was minimum in case of IR 64 rice variety. Hence, farmer may cultivate IR 64 rice variety in arsenic contaminated area.
Project – XIII
Title:Electricity generation from jute retting water using bio-voltaic cell
During jute retting water as well as the surrounding environment became polluted. Efforts was made here to generate electricity from jute retting water. In bio-voltaic cell zinc as anode, carbon rod as cathode and jute retting water as electrolytes were used. Maximum voltage and current generated when six bio-voltaic cells were arranged in series connection were 7.12V and 2.89 mA respectively.
Project – XIV
Title:Selection of environmentally and economically sustainable boundary fence
A physical barrier is needed to demarcate property and keep away the intruders like human and animals. For along time bio-fencing is used for this purpose. But bio-fencing is now being replaced with brick walls. The biodiversity was studied in a sample bio-fencing and a comparison was made between a sample bio-fencing and a brick wallregardingCO2sequestration and carbon footprint. In addition, carbon credit of both the cases were also studied. It was noticed that bio-fencing is more sustainable than brick wall so far, the economic and environmental issues are concerned.
Project – XV
Title:Sustainable use of different plant leaves as bio-pesticides against rice weevil (Sitophilusoryzae L.) in stored rice
The leaves of four plants viz. Sugar Apple, Nerium, Tickberry and Datura were tested against rice weevil. The effects of these leaves were measured in terms of mortality and repellant rate. It was found that all the leaves show measurable effects against the pest, rice weevil. The maximum result was noticed in case of Tickberry both for mortality rate (100%) and repelant rate (73.33%). Sugar apple was in the second position in this regard.
5. Conclusions
After completing the present investigation the following conclusions may be drawn –
1. Since 2010 fifteen projects were presented in National Children’s Science Congress from Fatepur High (H.S.) School under the guidance of the author of the present study and out of which one was selected for Indian Science Congress – 2014 and five projects were presented in national level. The number of project works presented in state and district levels were six and three respectively.
2. Among the fifteen works, analyzed here, “electricity generation from Parthenium and water hyacinth” is the most innovative study which was carried out by SubhraBhowmicketal. and it wasdemonstrated in Indian Science Congress, 2014. Other remarkable works were–
(i) Arsenic quantification by guava leaf
(ii) Effect of Arsenic on seed germination and growth of black mustard and black gram.
(iii) Effect of simulated acid rain on rice growth
3. Through the project of NCSC, the innovativeness of the students of Fatepur High (H.S.) School were expressed and it could be nurtured and explored during science class room teaching.
4. Some works, in this context were with immense social implication i.e. the result of the study can be used to solve few local science-based problems.
5. These projects definitely gave positive impact on students mind to develop scientific temperament as well as to initiate further science innovations.