Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)

Mangalore Nov 19: The valedictory function of the 15th State-level Science Convention-2007  organized by the Karnataka State Vijnana Parishat (KSVP) in association with the Pilikula Regional Science Centre Society (PRSCS) and held at the Pilikula Nisargadhama open theatre, here on Sunday November 18.

Speaking on the occasion Environment and Forest Department secretary Arvind Jannu declared
"Pilikula Nisargadhama must be made a plastic-free region. Heaps of plastic littered on the way to Nisargadhama and around Nisargadhama must be looked at and must be avoided."

Jannu spoke on the need to make Pilikula a plastic-free area as the centre is a good institution of learning for students and locals too and exhorted the authorities to take action in this regard. He rued the fact that several species of flora and fauna have been lost for ever due to the man’s interference with nature.

According to him, there are two types of universe, one being a seen universe like a huge tree and another kind an unseen universe like a small seed. “A child has the unseen power that a seed has” he compared. Children, he felt must be sensitized on safeguarding nature. Conventions should be held which help the students to develop scientific bent of mind and take them close to nature, he advised.

Accordingly a proposal was made to the government to make ‘ecology and environment concern’ as a part of the syllabus. He advised that students should conduct a thorough study on insects in nature for instance and should observe what changes occur to its life after a year. Thus in this way they must try and observe their surroundings critically and analyse every incident from a scientific view point, he added.

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat president K P Sucharitha Shetty, who presided over the function, said that children who are future young scientists had the responsibility of preserving the environment. Towards this end, the present generation had the responsibility to see to it that nature is handed over to the next generation safe and intact, he pointed out.

‘Yuva Vijnani Award’ (young scientist award) was presented to Madalambika, a seventh standard student of Government higher primary school from Mysore. She was selected for her thesis entitled ‘Artificial nests for birds’, a seven-month survey on birds and artificial cages carried out under the guidance of teacher H S Mamatha.

The award carries a momento, cash prize of Rs 5,000 and a certificate. Her guide Mamatha H S was presented a cash prize of Rs 1,000 and her school was given science books worth Rs 4,000.

KSVO coordinator H C Patil and PRSCS member secretary J R Lobo were present.