Shayana Mirashi, a Std XI student of Satyawati Soiru Angle Higher Secondary School, Mashem, Canacona-Goa, Shyamsundar Venkatesh, a Std XI student of The Kings School and Ahana Sanghavi, a Std X student of Navy Children School Goa have brought laurels to the state by winning the national scientific talent search championship ‘Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan’ (VVM) at national and zonal level.
Shayana Mirashi won the first ‘Himalayan’ award (national award) while Shyamsundar Venkatesh took home the second ‘Himalayan’ award. Ahana Sanghavi is the winner of the West Zone. The toppers were felicitated in Panaji today. Ahana could not make it for the ceremony due to her prior commitments, informed the organisers.
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.
The talent search VVM is a national programme for educating and popularising science among students of Std VI to XI. It endeavours to identify bright minds in the students’ community who are keen on subjects related to science.
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 students from Goa answered in online mode. Of these 48 students from junior category (Std 6th to 8th) and 41 students from senior category (Std 9th to 11th) were selected for the second state-level exam. This was held at Dr. K. B. Hedgewar Higher Secondary School, Cujira on Jan 29, 2023.
Top two students from each class i.e. total 12 students from the state were invited to a two-day national camp organised by Vigyan Bharati and NCERT at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER) on May 20 and May 21. The winners were selected on the basis of presentations, activities to test scientific understanding, innovation, creativity, out-of-box thinking and leadership qualities.
Atul Naik, as a State Coordinator assisted students at the National camp. Suhas Godse, the President of Vigyan Bharati, Manohar Pednekar, Secretary of Vigyan Bharati, Sameer Patil, Treasurer of Vigyan Bharati, Lt. Mahesh Gavkhare, 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.
