Students show their prowess at talent hunt

Does fish have the ability to experience electric shocks? Is it possible to cut down transmission loss during supply of electricity by embracing wireless technology? Is it possible to raise crop on a planet similar to Earth?

The answers to these questions were found at the sixth edition of Sahyadri Science Talent Hunt (SSHT), organised by Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management at its campus here, recently.

Fishes do experience pain and even faint when subjected to an electric shock, according to a project developed by students of SVS PU college in Bantwal.

What purpose is served by rendering a fish unconscious?

The students asserted that the present modes of fishing were not eco-friendly. The catch always includes a huge quantity of juveniles (fingerlings) which have to be discarded. Thus fishes are rendered unconscious with the help of their fishing model and the juveniles get a fresh lease of life by throwing them back into the pond or river.

“A minor shock does not cause you any lifetime harm, it just jolts you. The same goes for the fishes,” pat came the confident reply from students when pointed out that their fishing model was a bit harsh on the fishes.

Students of Alva’s PU college seemed to have succeeded in convincing the visitors that transmission of power through wireless technology was environment-friendly.

Students of RN Shetty PU College in Kundapur had developed an integrated solar-powered agriculture robot keeping the future in mind. The robot could sow seeds, replant paddy saplings and harvest the crop. The robot also could be used as ‘Rover’ to test whether crops can be raised in planets.

Many models inspired by Pacchanady landfill disaster, focused on effective ways of waste segregation.

As many as 30 projects of the total 350 that were showcased in the SSHT, including the fishing model, were adjudged as winners under different categories.

A panel of experts will select ideas with the objective to convert them into products and start-ups, New Age Incubation (NAIN) Centre Manager Ashwin Shetty said.

Prashanth Prakash, Co-Founder of Erasmic and Founding Partner of Accel India, inaugurated the science talent hunt.

Prakash said the event was a path-breaking programme for future innovators at school-level.

At the valedictory programme, Bhandary Foundation Chairman Manjunath Bhandary said the selected projects will be hand-held at Sahyadri.