According to an official release on December 29, Eureka – a hands-on science education provider – has launched India’s first ever STEM club for kids. The first of its workshops was conducted at the Parikrma Centre for Learning, Bangalore recently. The theme for the workshop was centred around “Pollution in the Neighbourhood”. The initiative by Eureka and DiscoverED, the STEM programmes under Fitkids Education and Training saw over 1500 entrees from across 35 schools registering for the competition, out of whom, 50 children representing 19 schools across India were selected.

Students who were part of the workshop worked on a real time project which aimed to measure pollution in their neighbourhood. The month long project culminated with a 3 day workshop held from December 27 to 29 with the students presenting their ideas. The best of the lot from both workshops get to be part of the Eureka STEM Class of 2017. The shortlisted young scientists will be groomed over the next 3 years by the core team to help them excel at international science fairs such as Google Science Fair (GSF) and Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

The event in Bangalore was inaugurated by Ram G Vallath, former COO of Airtel and a motivational speaker and bestselling author of children’s books, and Shukla Bose, founder and CEO of Parikrma Foundation.

Speaking about the initiative, Bose said, “What Eureka STEM Club is set out to do is really necessary for schools in India. Parikrma will do all that it can to support this great initiative.”

As part of the workshop, students have developed innovative apparatus to take the first step in combating pollution. Vishnu and Pranav, worried by the pollution overtaking the lakes, went on to a journey of identifying how organic wastes are broken down by bacteria in water, making water bodies acidic. In response, they plan on releasing a test strip to measure water pollution at a just 15 rupees. This can protect people and aquatic life from the ill effects of polluted water.

Sai Rahul and Girish, who come from a primarily agricultural society of North Karnataka, know that their water bodies are suspected to be full of phosphates and other chemicals from the fertilisers. As commercial phosphate detectors cost north of INR 6,000, they plan to make a device that does the same job for just 500 rupees.

Rajat T, CEO, DiscoverED, said “Fitkids is deeply focused on science learning and aims to bring out the best in the students. We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm of the children who have presented their research and innovative thoughts during the workshop. Motivation, resources and mentorship are very important for students in India today so that they can truly focus on STEM learning”.