Paromita Sengupta (Bengaluru)

An AM Naik School, Powai, Mumbai (estb.2022) team — comprising class IX students Vedanshi Mehta, Aarav Mohanraj and Arushi Ganguly — was declared National Winner of the Vivo Ignite Science & Innovation Ver. 2.0 competition for innovating prototypes of green, energy-efficient, economical and safe Smart Street devices. The finale was staged in New Delhi on February 10. An eminent jury awarded a purse of Rs.7 lakh and a glittering trophy to the team.

The Vivo Ignite Awards, a CSR initiative of Vivo India, is open to classes VIII-XII students countrywide. NCERT and iHub DivyaSampark — IIT- Roorkee are its knowledge partners. This year, Vivo Ignite attracted 19,000 entries and 4,000 project proposals. Conducted over three rounds, the competition required participants to ideate and design innovative green energy projects for positive social impact.

Challenged by atmospheric pollution and rising road accidents in Mumbai, this team of 14-year-olds presented three devices — an eco-friendly streetlight shade made with stubble and dried leaves; a hydraulic portal to transport pedestrians safely across traffic-choked urban roads, and an air purifier based on Direct Air Capture technology.

“We also presented waterproof touch sensors to be placed on the edge of pavements to alarm distracted pedestrians on their mobile phones that they are at risk of being injured by passing motor cars. In addition, we proposed piezoelectric material for use in pavements in the form of tiles, to convert mechanical energy generated by people walking on them into electrical energy for powering streetlights,” says Vedanshi, a medical science enthusiast.

These young wizzes are beholden to their teachers — Manju Narin, Deepali Kulkarni and robotics teacher Yatin Kulkarni. “We intend to upgrade and perhaps commercialise these products with the aid and advice of A.M. Naik Sir, our school’s founder and former chairman of Larsen & Toubro,” says Aarav, a sentiment echoed by team members Vedanshi and Aarushi.

“We are already in touch with him,” says team leader Vedanshi.

Wind in your sails!