INNOVATIONS developed by students and researchers emerged as key attractions on the third day of the 13th Bhopal Science Fair currently underway at the Barkatullah University campus. Among the prominent exhibits was a project titled ‘BhoomiPuls T-4’, designed to convert waste generated from the lac processing industry into a viable agricultural resource. Developed to act as a soil conditioner, the project was created using a mixture of rice husk ash and lac mud under technical support from the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology. Madhavi Bisen contributed to the project, while a mechanical voting machine was separately developed by Ramprasad Vishwakarma and his team. Dairy Shield Pro protects livestock: Another notable display at the science fair featured ‘Dairy Shield Pro’, an innovative system aimed at reducing the impact of infection-spreading bacteria and viruses in animal husbandry environments. The device utilises a transducer to convert water into a fine vapour, which is subsequently dispersed into the surrounding air using a propeller mechanism. Developers noted that essential oils such as neem, lemongrass, and basil can be integrated into the water solution to effectively lower microorganisms on surfaces and in the air, though the project remains at a laboratory testing stage. Cost effective technology for dairy farms: The creators of the dairy protection system reported that the device incurs a modest manufacturing cost ranging between Rs 1,500 and 2,000 while consuming approximately 5 watts of operational power. By employing transducer technology instead of conventional thermal evaporation, the unit achieves high energy efficiency.

 

Further field trials under actual farm and dairy conditions are currently planned to determine large-scale utility and effectiveness. Digital walking stick aids visually impaired: Visitors to the exhibition also showed keen interest in a digital walking stick designed by Himanshi Verma, a tenth-grade student, to assist visually impaired individuals. Equipped with integrated sensors and cameras, the assistive device detects obstacles within a range of two to five meters. Additionally, the project incorporates application-based features designed to facilitate currency identification and location tracking, aimed at simplifying everyday mobility for users. Over hundred projects at Innovation Sangam: The ‘Innovation Sangam’ segment of the science fair features more than one hundred projects addressing diverse challenges across agriculture, crop security, labour safety, health, waste management, and renewable energy. The exhibition serves as a platform for young researchers to demonstrate practical technological solutions derived from grassroots observations and academic mentorship. Major scientific institutions join exhibition:The grand exhibition witnesses the active participation of around 53 premier scientific organisations, research institutions, and industrial bodies, including ISRO, IIT, IISER, CSIR, MPCST, RRCAT, NTPC, CIL, and GAIL. Furthermore, the rural technology pavilion hosted by the state science council features 45 stalls highlighting traditional crafts, rural innovations, and community welfare initiatives.