Madurai Students Bring Kalam's Vision to Life at Young Science Fest
Madurai Students Innovate at Young Kalam Science Fest

Madurai Students Bring Kalam's Vision to Life at Young Science Fest

"Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge, and knowledge makes you great." This famous quote from the late President APJ Abdul Kalam continues to inspire generations. It perfectly captures the spirit of education. In Madurai, this vision found vibrant expression at the Young Kalam Science Fest for corporation schools.

Innovation Born from Daily Life

K Raghavan, a Class 9 student at Kambar Corporation Higher Secondary School, presented a pair of magnetic gloves. His father works as a sanitary worker. Raghavan designed the gloves to help remove metal items from rubbish safely. "When we use these gloves, any metal items found in the rubbish can be easily removed," Raghavan explained. "These often cause injuries and, if left unattended, can also affect health."

The festival provided a unique platform for students. They drew inspiration from personal experiences and everyday observations. Their goal was simple: devise practical solutions to real-world problems.

Projects That Make a Difference

Students showcased a wide array of inventions. J P Pani Naveen and M Kalatharan from Corporation Higher Secondary School in Sundararajapuram developed a digital spoon. It assists people living with Parkinson's disease. "I saw people struggling to eat independently," said Naveen. The device effectively reduces hand tremors during meals.

Other notable projects included:

  • A model rocket by Selvapandian A and Abraham A from Corporation High School in Tallakulam.
  • An obstacle-avoiding car by A Vishal and Mohamed Afran from Bharathiar Corporation High School. This vehicle moves without a driver by sensing obstacles ahead.
  • A homemade vacuum cleaner constructed from plastic components, created due to the unavailability of such appliances at home.
  • An earthquake detector built purely out of curiosity to understand the science behind natural phenomena.

A Celebration of Curiosity and Competition

M Ayyar, headmaster of Velliveethiyar Corporation Girls Higher Secondary School, expressed great pride. "Students from across Madurai corporation schools presented their projects," Ayyar said. "It is wonderful to witness their curiosity. Such platforms build competitive spirit while igniting a genuine interest in science."

The event took place on Friday at Velliveethiyar Corporation Girls Higher Secondary School. The HCL Foundation and the Socio-Economic Development Trust (SEDT) organized the fest. As many as 24 stalls displayed student innovations.

Recognizing Young Talent

The festival concluded with prize distributions. Awards went to several outstanding projects. The winning entries included:

  1. An anti-deaf bag alarm.
  2. The digital spoon for Parkinson's patients.
  3. An aeroplane accident detection system.
  4. The obstacle-avoiding car.
  5. A modern irrigation system.

These young innovators proved that great ideas can come from anywhere. They demonstrated how classroom learning translates into creative, impactful solutions. The Young Kalam Science Fest truly embodied the transformative power of education that Dr. Kalam championed throughout his life.