On Friday, July 24, the fifth edition of the Parikrma Innovations Conclave 2026 brought together young innovators from across India and abroad to present sustainable solutions under the theme “Waste to Worth: Young Minds Designing a Cleaner Future.”

The annual conclave invited students from 45 schools to reimagine waste as a valuable resource and design innovative solutions that address environmental challenges. Following a rigorous selection process, 15 schools were shortlisted to present their projects before an eminent jury comprising academicians, industry leaders and sustainability experts.

The winners were:

First Place: Inventure Academy, Whitefield Campus – Sustainable Sound Panels

Second Place: Christ Academy CBSE School – Micromesh

Third Place: Parikrma Centre for Learning, Nandini Layout – Eco-friendly MANCO, a mosquito repellent

Special Recognition Awards were presented to:

The Regency School

Idea: Reclaimed plastic: Composite tiles with glowing capabilities

Vidyaniketan Academy Centre for Learning Challenges

Idea: EcoSmart Bus stop: A sustainable urban mobility hub

The conclave was supported by the Centre for Sustainable Technology (CST), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, the event’s key knowledge partner.

The event was graced by distinguished guests. Among them: Prof. Lakshminarayana Rao, associate professor, CST, IISc; Prof. M. S. Mohan Kumar, Department of Civil Engineering, IISc; Prof. G. Madhavi Latha, professor of civil engineering, CST, IISc; K. Vijay, chairman, AJAX Engineering Limited; Dr Sujatha Mohan; and Harmendra Gandhi, IIT Kanpur and IIM Bangalore alumnus.

A key highlight of the conclave was a panel discussion on “From Throwaway Society to Circular Society,” which explored how circular economy principles can help build a more sustainable future. The discussion featured Dr Chanakya, former chief research scientist at the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, IISc Bengaluru; Dr Priyanka Jamwal, senior fellow and programme leader at ATREE; Karthik Natarajan, co-lead at Fields of View; Dr Bineesha Payyappallimana, an environmental scientist and sustainability expert and executive director at International Institute of Waste Management (IIWM) and Rakshitha, a Parikrma student representing the voice of young changemakers.

In the lead-up to the conclave, participating students attended a series of expert sessions that combined scientific knowledge with practical design approaches to waste management. Speakers included Prof. M. S. Mohan Kumar, Dr Veena Srinivasan, founder and executive director of WELL Labs; Prof. Lakshminarayana Rao; Dr Kanishka G, chief ecosystem officer, Sustainability Venture Studios, IIT Madras; and Deepthi Nagappa, research manager, Urban Water Programme, WELL Labs.

The Parikrma Innovations Conclave is an annual platform that recognises and promotes schools championing innovative educational practices. It showcases student-led projects across science, technology, liberal arts and social entrepreneurship, encouraging young learners to develop creative, practical solutions to real-world challenges.

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