How about a marker pen with red chilli or turmeric ink? Or a mosquito repellent produced from papaya leaves?
Budding scientists from Maharashtra and Gujarat have come up with these products, receiving recognition at an international science fair.
Venkatraman and her classmate Neha Kulkarni, products of Modern English School, Mumbai have developed an extract from the leaves of papaya that can control mosquitoes. They studied the efficacies of the extract for several months and found that ''the mortality rate of mosquitoes was 86 percent''.
Their product is completely bio-natural and cost effective. It doesn't cause any harm to the soil, plants and human beings
''We collected papaya leaves, crushed them to make an extract, diluted it in water and studied its effect on mosquitoes in different stages,'' Kulkarni told IANS.
Venkatraman and Kulkarni showcased their innovations at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (IISEF) in US last month and bagged the third prize beating nearly 1,500 young innovators from across the world.
Similarly, another pair of budding scientists from the S.G. Dholakiya Memorial High School in Rajkot, Gujarat, has produced marker pen ink from chilli (red ink), turmeric (yellow), carrot (saffron) and even rose petals (pink).
''First, all different types of coloured vegetables are taken and crushed separately. This solution is boiled at 100 degrees Celsius for nearly 20 minutes. It is kept for self-cooling and after nearly an hour, the dye is prepared,'' said Pooja Dholakiya.
''Kerosene is added in different proportions to the dye. Then 0.5 cm diameter cotton cording is taken and poured into the dye. After about one hour, people can use it as marker pen,'' explained Dholakiya's classmate Ridhi Dasani.
They too represented India at IISEF 2008. As a team they got a $1,000 award at the fair.
Seeing the young talent of India, Indian Science and Technology Minister, Kapil Sibal remarked, ''It's heartening to see that budding scientists are going eco-friendly. This is a good sign for both science and new innovations.''
Source: Indo Asian News Service
Friday, June 6, 2008
An Individual Success Story
It's the World Environment Day. And the residents of Sealine in Pali Hill - one of Mumbai's most upscale suburbs - have started a new initiative.
They have come together to reduce their carbon footprint. And after turning over a new leaf, they're now on a mission to start an entire movement.
And all the credit for this goes to Navin Chandra - a 78-year-old retired chemical engineer.
Navin is on a mission. He has convinced all the residents of his building to lower their collective carbon footprint.
And he has done a lot of preparation for this.
He has installed solar panels on the rooftops, which provide for most of the society's power needs and ensure continuous hot water supply.
He has also started rainwater harvesting that ensures unlike other buildings in posh Pali Hill, Sealine never suffers from water shortage.
And vermiculture recycles all the garbage collected into a green space. This has always been a luxury in Mumbai, even for the posh localities.
From some initial resistance, Chandra now has the entire building backing him.
''I think its great. We are giving back to the environment instead of taking from it. It makes us in a sense citizens of the world,'' says Ranjini Ramachandran, a resident.
The residents have adopted a local park and the Carter Road promenade hoping their efforts will inspire a larger movement.
And Navin is happy.
''In Mumbai we face so much water and power shortage so its important we look for environment friendly solutions,'' he says.
Source: NDTV.com
They have come together to reduce their carbon footprint. And after turning over a new leaf, they're now on a mission to start an entire movement.
And all the credit for this goes to Navin Chandra - a 78-year-old retired chemical engineer.
Navin is on a mission. He has convinced all the residents of his building to lower their collective carbon footprint.
And he has done a lot of preparation for this.
He has installed solar panels on the rooftops, which provide for most of the society's power needs and ensure continuous hot water supply.
He has also started rainwater harvesting that ensures unlike other buildings in posh Pali Hill, Sealine never suffers from water shortage.
And vermiculture recycles all the garbage collected into a green space. This has always been a luxury in Mumbai, even for the posh localities.
From some initial resistance, Chandra now has the entire building backing him.
''I think its great. We are giving back to the environment instead of taking from it. It makes us in a sense citizens of the world,'' says Ranjini Ramachandran, a resident.
The residents have adopted a local park and the Carter Road promenade hoping their efforts will inspire a larger movement.
And Navin is happy.
''In Mumbai we face so much water and power shortage so its important we look for environment friendly solutions,'' he says.
Source: NDTV.com
Environment is Second Big Problem for Delhi
By Shilpi Aggarwal
Hey, Delhi congrats! It’s heartening to see that delhites are maturing up. We have finally started to wake up to the stark realities of deteriorating environment. Yesterday, I was watching the CNN-IBN’s State of the Environment show. And, it was appalling to see the results of their survey. Six metropolitans of India voted for environment as their second most problem beating sanitary and water, law and order, unemployment and even corruption. Unbelievable but yes, quite remarkable! And, when they were asked what they want for their cities – high rise buildings, luxury malls, or trees, 46% chose trees instead of cities. Still, Pretty high number!
Survey Poll indicated the growing concern for environment among urban India. It showed people care for and are willing to do something for the betterment of the environment.
But another aspect the show pointed toward is the gap between their concern and their lifestyle. It was shocking to see how people think when it comes to contribution to this alarming problem. 45% of people connect the problem of air pollution to the industries. They think the major contributor is the industries and their own vehicles come second. Majority are not aware that sewage from their homes goes to the rivers, contributing it in major way. More than 50% think their sewage go to Municipality drains. Undoubtedly, People are acutely feeling the heat of the people. But they are not connecting it to their lifestyle. Majority believes that only planting trees in a big way can solve the issue.
Although a guy came forward from Noida and admitted he takes bicycle to go to his office, he also made a point that many of his friends wants to do the same but unable to do so due to the lack of proper infrastructure. And, what was more heartening to see when a lady acknowledged that the environment is as important commodity as milk or petrol or any other. She was in fact ready to pay more for environment as well. There came a child whose family opts for public vehicles on weekdays and only take out car once a week for outing. Poll also shows the result that people don’t mind in using public transport given they are affordable, convenient, safe and high on comfort. And, the yes, it shows in the successful implementation of Metro project.
Yesterday’s CNN-IBN’s show was a clear picture of growing sense of Young Urban India towards the environment. Whereas the people of Europe and America vote for environment as an urgent social problem poorly, we in India have finally woke up to the call.
Hey, Delhi congrats! It’s heartening to see that delhites are maturing up. We have finally started to wake up to the stark realities of deteriorating environment. Yesterday, I was watching the CNN-IBN’s State of the Environment show. And, it was appalling to see the results of their survey. Six metropolitans of India voted for environment as their second most problem beating sanitary and water, law and order, unemployment and even corruption. Unbelievable but yes, quite remarkable! And, when they were asked what they want for their cities – high rise buildings, luxury malls, or trees, 46% chose trees instead of cities. Still, Pretty high number!
Survey Poll indicated the growing concern for environment among urban India. It showed people care for and are willing to do something for the betterment of the environment.
But another aspect the show pointed toward is the gap between their concern and their lifestyle. It was shocking to see how people think when it comes to contribution to this alarming problem. 45% of people connect the problem of air pollution to the industries. They think the major contributor is the industries and their own vehicles come second. Majority are not aware that sewage from their homes goes to the rivers, contributing it in major way. More than 50% think their sewage go to Municipality drains. Undoubtedly, People are acutely feeling the heat of the people. But they are not connecting it to their lifestyle. Majority believes that only planting trees in a big way can solve the issue.
Although a guy came forward from Noida and admitted he takes bicycle to go to his office, he also made a point that many of his friends wants to do the same but unable to do so due to the lack of proper infrastructure. And, what was more heartening to see when a lady acknowledged that the environment is as important commodity as milk or petrol or any other. She was in fact ready to pay more for environment as well. There came a child whose family opts for public vehicles on weekdays and only take out car once a week for outing. Poll also shows the result that people don’t mind in using public transport given they are affordable, convenient, safe and high on comfort. And, the yes, it shows in the successful implementation of Metro project.
Yesterday’s CNN-IBN’s show was a clear picture of growing sense of Young Urban India towards the environment. Whereas the people of Europe and America vote for environment as an urgent social problem poorly, we in India have finally woke up to the call.
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