Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Shayana Mirashi, an Std XI student of Satyawati Soiru Angle Higher Secondary School, Shyamsundar Venkatesh, an Std XI student of The Kings School and Ahana Sanghavi, an Std X student of Navy Children School Goa have brought laurel to the state by winning the national science talent search championship ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan’ (VVM) at national and zonal level respectively.
Shayana won the first ‘Himalayan’ award (national award), and Shyamsundar took home the second ‘Himalayan’ award, while Ahana Sanghavi is the winner of the West Zone. The talent search VVM is a national programme for educating and popularising science among students of Std VI to XI.
The first and second state-level screening was done through written examination for students of Std VI-XI. At the first state-level exam, 1850 Goa students answered online. Of these, 48 students from the junior category (Std 6th to 8th) and 41 students from the senior category (Std 9th to 11th) were selected for the second state-level exam.
The top two students from each class, i.e. a total of 12 students from the state, were invited to a two-day national camp organised by Vigyan Bharati and NCERT at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER) on May 20 and May 21. The winners were selected based on presentations, activities to test scientific understanding, innovation, creativity, out-of-box thinking and leadership qualities.
Shayana Mirashi and Shyamsundar received Rs. 25,000 and Rs.15,000 cash prize, respectively along with a trophy, a Merit Certificate and Rs. 2000 stipend per month for one year. Moreover, Ahana Sanghavi received Rs.2000, a trophy and a Merit Certificate.
Atul Naik, as a State Coordinator, assisted students at the National camp. Suhas Godse, the President of Vigyan Parishad, Goa; Sameer Patil, the Treasurer; Manohar Pednekar, the Secretary; Lt. Mahesh Gavkhare, the State co-ordinator of VVM, Shubhangi Agni and Amey Shirodkar of the core committee, all played significant roles in guiding students at the national camp.
