Study On The Effects Of Climate Change
A group of students from Government High School, Idigarai, has spent more than six months on a project for the National Children’s Science Congress. The result is a well-researched study on the effects of climate change on the Pilloor dam.
Having represented the Coimbatore region at the national-level children’s science congress held two years ago, the team is back with a better piece of work this year. More than 250 students from various schools in the district displayed their projects at the Tamil Nadu Science Forum – National Children’s Science Congress project presentations organised by the NSS and the Department of Biochemistry of the GRD College of Science here on Wednesday. R.Vinoth Kumar, K.Ravi Kumar, V.Nanda Kumar, M.Ananda Krishnan and R.Ramakrishnan from Idigarai made several visits to the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and even the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Udhagamandalam, to collect the relevant data.
“We chose to work on this issue because we have been experiencing severe water shortage in the recent times. The investigation led us to the phenomenon of climate change,” said Vinoth Kumar. “The catchment areas have to be conserved, soil erosion should be prevented by building trenches and we have to create awareness on climate change,” he added. The students were also part of the J.C.Bose Thulir Illam Science Club. Providing an opportunity to children to display their scientific potential, the competition draws hundreds of students from Government as well as private schools every year. Students brought out pertinent issues plaguing the well being of the environment. The topic of this year’s congress was ‘Planet Earth.’
Students from Government High School, Devarayapuram, stressed the importance of observation in scientific pursuits. They brought along a nest, expected to be that of a crow, which had been built by the bird using metal wires and thorny twigs. Their project guide V.Rajagopal says, “Students should be encouraged to observe things around them. The habit can lead them to wonderful discoveries.” The team from Sri Ramakrishna Matriculation Higher Secondary School studied the impact of green house gases on the environment.
Smoking was not the only health hazard. Vehicular emissions were even more dangerous, their study concluded. More than 40 schools took part. Projects selected at the presentation would be selected for the State level, said V. Kalaigandhi, Co-ordinator of the programme. Original and innovative ones would be selected for the national level. Deserving projects would be given financial support by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The State-level congress would be held in December. G.Narayanasamy, Chief Educational Officer of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, inaugurated the congress.
