Intel Environment Research Contest

Bangalore: INTEL had organised an Environment Research Contest, early this year, in collaboration with Concerned India Foundations and their Knowledge partner- Ecowatch. It was open to schools, colleges and corporates, each forming a separate category in the competition. Each competitor came up with an implementable project at an identified area. The winning project gets to implement and monitor their project using the grand cheque signed by Intel!

For the college category, a grant of Rs. 75,000 was fought for. As you would have anticipated, Green Shield members DID work double-time for this project.

3 teams of 2-3 members each participated.

Team 1.

Chet, Madhu and Kee(Nanny):

Topic: Cleaner and Greener Sahakara Nagar

Our project was aimed at Sahakara Nagar, where the development is rapid due to the new Bangalore International Airport, located around the area, and an influx in population would imperitive! Since, the area is still developing, implimenting sustainable development schemes could be easily incorporated. (That's the exact sentence we used as our opening line, except i forgot the word impertive, and used inevitable.. hehe)

Our schemes included, segregation of organic and inorganic wastes, vermicomposting, using percolation pits and planting APTI tolerant saplings.

Team 2.

Kat, Rosh and Sapna:

Topic: Eco homes

The project focused on addressing energy saving mechanisms that are environmentally and economically viable. Simple changes in the life style such as by replacing incandescent lamps with CFL bulbs, a normal gas/electric stove for a solar cooker were in included. Middle-Lower Income Groups would benefit these articles with the money from the grant provided. The Carbon Footprint was also intended to be calculated at every household. (And yes, Rosh's (in)Famous formula for electricity is also used to calculate the net amount of electricity used! :P)

Team 3

Megs and Yogi:

Topic: Reduce and Reuse Plastic

Their project was concentrated on channelising all the plastic generated at identified retail outlets, apartments, and houses to asphalt roads. A company called K&K plastic waste management has been involved in the field for the past 7 years or more. The bitumen- plastic mix is used to make smooth and durable roads. This technique has been implemented in several parts of Bangalore such as St. Marks road, Cunningham road, Miller road etc.

In the prefinal round, there were four teams, 3 from MCC (woot!) and 1 from MS Ramaiah Arts and Science.

In the final round, 2 MCC teams competed against MS Ramaiah. The panel of judges included eminent people such as Ms. Sonia Shrivastava, CSR Head South Asia, Intel, Ms.Rashmi from TERI, Mr. Kumaraswamy from KSPCB, Mr. Pampa P Chowdhury, Branch Manager of Concern India Foundations and Mr. Suresh Heblikar, Chairman of Ecowatch.

Under the time frame of 10 mins, all our schemes, bugeting and monitoring were quickly rattled out. Questions were asked and answered, with a wink and pageant smile... nay, we did better than that! We answered all questions as quickly and sensibly as possible. (Aich, Rosh! ;)

After a grueling 6 hour battle of restlessness, fatigue and anxiety, both teams were declared winners of second and third place. Yea...we didn't get the money, but hey there's always another time and place! :)

The event was a big deal for us, it involved alot of sleepless nights, sore eyes, neck, back and butt. So an acknowledgement is IMPERTIVE! :)

I would like to thank Intel for providing us with an fantastic platform to showcase our knowledge and skill. Mrs. Shobha Ma'am for being the brain of our projects and a backbone through the entire ordeal. I would also like to thank the Intel tea and coffee machine for being ever so patient and generous with Rosh and I, and for keeping up with our incessant requirements.

Thank you, one and all!

Say, free black lemon tea anyone?