State level children science congress conducted by PSCST 

Chandigarh, January 17, 2022: Children Science Congress (CSC) is a unique platform created at PAN-India level to provide opportunity to school science students for understanding the societal challenges and exploring scientific solutions for them. Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST) as nodal agency of DST, Govt. of India organized the State Level CSC in virtual mode on 11th and 12th January, 2022.
 
134 projects adjudged best at the level of districts were presented on the focal theme of ‘Science for Sustainable Living’. Out of these, 89 projects were from rural areas. A total of 268 students participated. More than 130 teachers who had provided mentorship to the students during the conceptualization, experimentation and findings also participated.
 
At the state level, projects were evaluated by a team of 6 experts, namely Dr. Avtar Singh Dhindsa, National Level CSC evaluator, Dr. Avneet Pal Singh from Punjabi University, Patiala, Dr. Jaspreet Kaur from Panjab University, Chandigarh, Dr. Kuldeep Kaur Gill from Mata Gujri College and Dr. Rakesh Uppal. In total, 16 best projects i.e. 8 each in senior and junior categories, were selected and they will now be participating at the national level CSC.
 
The announcement of results for senior category was made by Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora, Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science & Technology and that of the junior category was made by Dr. B.K. Tyagi, Scientist, Vigyan Prasar, Govt. of India on 14th January, 2022. The key note speakers underlined that CSC event is catalytic in igniting the young minds to explore and experiment and think scientifically and plays a major role in their all round development.
 
In the senior category, the team led by Bhavya Handa and Thluxmi Handa from Bhavan’s SL Public School, Amritsar was awarded first for their project on potential of electric field for sustainable agriculture. The project adjudged second was of Ritika & Navpreet Kaur from Govt. Sen. Sec. School, Khamano Kalan which suggested use of Urigel as natural fertilizer. In the junior category, the project adjudged first was of Pranshi Shukla & Simranjit Kaur of Govt. Sen. Sec. School, Kot Khalsa, Amritsar on social innovations to repel insects. The project placed second was of Sukhdeep and Gurleen Kaur of Govt. Sen. Sec. School, Gobindpur Khun Khun, Hoshiarpur on making paper from Cannabis sativa.
 
All the best projects were awarded prizes and certificates.