Science is not only a segment of the school curriculum but a part and parcel of our daily life, for without it, none of our daily activities would have been possible. It has its effects not only on the living but also on the non-living…. Such vast is its influence. On the bright and fresh morning of the 27th of April, 2022, Green light for Girls along with Covestro organized a fun filled science program for the students of Auxilium Convent High School, Lonavla, themed, Meet the Scientist. Before beginning the programme, the students were provided with snacks and were thereafter led towards a few garbage bags where the various waste matters after the snacks were segregated: plastic, paper, MLPs and bottles.
Mr. Allen Rodrigues, from the Green line for Girls Organization headed the entire programme, enthusing the students with his witty remarks and quick but fun science experiments all along. The scientists present for the event were Mrs. Pallavi Deshmukh, Ms. Kavita Desai, Mr. Anand Gaur and Ms. Deepika, the Administrative in charge at Covestro. Covestro is a chemistry based company which aims at innovations which tend towards sustainable development, keeping in mind the fragile nature of our Mother Earth. The introductory message was delivered through a video by the Managing Director of Green line for Girls, Mr. Anand Deshmukh, in which he encouraged the girls to dream and work towards attaining their goals, because ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
Mrs. Pallavi Deshmukh, in introducing herself, made the students aware that in their own homes they have all met a scientist in their own mothers, who try and try again till they have made something much tastier in the kitchen, where a lot of chemicals are used. She herself is involved in the production of foams and adhesives to be directed towards a circular economy so as to reduce or eliminate the production of waste. At Covestro, the aim is not to “Say No to Plastic” but to “Say No to Plastic Waste”.
Mr. Anand Gaur, from Covestro, involved in the Surface Coating Technology, stressed that we need to be curious and develop a goal that we work towards in life. The wise words go thus: “What we learn to do, we can learn by doing”. Very simply, he made the students aware of the difference between an innovation and a novelty. He is currently involved in developing an efficient and quick adhesive for sports shoes for which he has already received a patent. The students were introduced to the three main characters of scientists at Covestro: CURIOUS, COURAGEOUS, COLOURFUL.
Interspersed throughout the programme, the students had the hands-on science activity of making Seed Balls by digging their hands into the raw earth to form small balls into which the seeds were introduced. The students were also introduced to the concept of NETZERO, which focuses on reducing our Carbon footprint through a No pollution, No garbage mantra. Thereafter the students were provided with the necessary materials in order to inscribe their own ideas for a NETZERO school, home and society. Some of the ideas were then requested to be presented to all. Many of the students and teachers had very innovative ideas for the same, including a solar panel fence, converting kinetic energy from various activities of daily life into electrical energy, etc.
Towards the end, signaling the green light for girls, the students and teachers were given colourful papers on which they wrote down their high aims in life. These were then folded into rockets which were set to flight by the girls, symbolizing that they will let their dreams fly high, without any preoccupation about anyone or anything. The programme ended with the felicitation of the Scientists and the various other personalities present as also, Sr. Caroline Menezes, the animator, Sr. Sheela Furtado, the headmistress and Sr. Gloria Ferrao, the headmistress of Auxilium, Wadala. The group also presented a set of informative books to the school library on women from various walks of life. The students were once again reminded that they should have a goal in life towards which they work and to dream big.
The students received a memento from the group of scientists before they left, thrilled and enthusiastic about trying out the world of science in their daily life.
