From building portable chairs to innovative models of paper airplanes, it was a lively day at Reva University as students from across India showcased their ideas on Friday.
Deepanshu Biniwalle, a Class 8 student from Shishukunj International School in Indore, surprised his instructors by discovering a new perspective regarding 3D vision. He was among the students part of the ‘ASSET Summer Programme’, which encourages students to think out of the box.
Participants, who were from classes 7 and 8, were selected through a rigorous two-step screening process that involved a test. Only the top five per cent qualified for the second round. The best are chosen to participate in a 23-day camp, which culminated on Friday.
This year’s batch comprised 85 students. Once admitted to the programme, they are free to choose a subject from among physics, engineering, math, neuroscience, genetics and Global Politics & Foreign Policy. During the course of the programme, leading scientists and experts in various fields from India and other parts of the world shared their views with them.
Vishnuteerth Agnihotri, one of the two administrators of the programme, said, “There is a noticeable change in the children between the first and the last day of the event. They seem to have developed patience and divergent thinking, which has broadened their perspective about their subjects and interests.”
The programme gave students from different parts of the country an opportunity to interact with each other. Ishaan Bhartiya from Shiv Nadar School, Noida, spoke about how co-operating with others was initially a challenge, but proved to be a fruitful experience.
Pankhuri Nigam, another administrator, said, “It is an environment where like-minded children can share their interests and ideas, and work on them together.”
On the last day of the programme, the children were presented certificates and score-sheets to give them an idea of their performance.
