‘Together We Can!’ encourages students to come together as agents of change and take ownership of a future that we each share with each other, by taking up a real-world challenge and imagining innovative possibilities using eSTEAM concepts.
This year’s challenge asked participating students to reimagine today’s factories in line with nature’s efficient and zero waste circular principles, collaborating with Biomimicry India, an organisation dedicated to nurturing nature-integrated thinking and encouraging nature inspired solutions.
Group A (classes VI-VIII) had to design an innovative bio inspired model of a household water purification system. Students from Salwan Public School, Rajendra Nagar, who designed water purification systems mimicking nephrons in human kidneys and xylem transportation tissues in plants were declared the winners. Nirmal Bhartia School (NiBS) were the runners-up, but since it was the hosting school, the runner-up trophy was rolled over to Venkateshwar International school (VIS), Dwarka. Students from VIS designed their system using easily available, bio-degradable substances and used solar technology while the NiBS team designed their water purification system mimicking the cell wall and plasma membrane functions in diatoms.
Group B (classes IX-XII) had to design an innovative bio-inspired household cooling solution. Students from Vasant Valley School, Vasant Kunj, which used moisture trapped by defogging nets placed above areca plants for cooling buildings were adjudged the winners, while the students from NiBS were the runners-up. The runner-up trophy was again rolled over to the team from ITL Public School, Dwarka, which designed a bio-inspired HVAC system.
Kudos to the winners and participants who designed stunning bio-inspired solutions, thus setting a new benchmark in design thinking for a sustainable world! We thank our esteemed panel of judges comprising Mr. Prasant Dhawan, cofounder of Biomimicry India, Mr. Monish Kumar Siripurapu, founder and principal architect at ANT Studio, Ms. Saswati Chetia, associate director at Greentech Knowledge Solutions and Mr. Bhitush Luthra, principal consultant with WASH that works towards water and sanitation for all, which thoroughly delved into the designs, evaluated them, and offered valuable inputs.