Rajesh Sharma, Keekli Reporter, 12th July, Shimla
Awards to be given by A.P.J. Kalam at Ahmedabad; Burathoki directed all principals and headmasters of Himachal Schools to guide students to participate in the competition
Students both private and public schools in Himachal will now have a chance to compete in the IGNITE 2015 competition — a nationwide competition of students’ original technological ideas and innovations to promote originality and creativity among school children, which is held by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The Director of Higher Education of Himachal Pradesh Dinkar Burathoki said that IGNITE-15 competition was underway and entries would be accepted till 31st August, 2015. The awards will be announced on 15th October, the birth date of former President Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Celebrating children’s creativity and innovative intelligence the awards will be given away by Dr.Kalam at IIM Ahmedabad. All the Principals, Headmasters of Government, Private and Higher Secondary Schools of Himachal have been directed to guide the interested eligible student’s of the school to participate in IGNITE 2015 competition. Dinkar Burathoki told that each entry should be accompanied with a certificate from parents and teachers saying that the idea/innovation has been developed and documented by the student concerned entirely on his /her without any guidance and support from them.
NIF will provide incubation support (patenting, prototyping, etc.) to all deserving cases. Winners of the earlier IGNITE competitions have also won awards in NIF’s national competition by the former president.
He further stated that all school going children up to the classes +2 of any school can participate in the competition by sending their entries through email to — ignite@nifindia.org — on or before 31st August, 2015.
Entries to submit in various categories
- The Director said that entries may be submitted in the various categories i.e.
- Technological practical ideas to solve any problem in day to day life,
- Real life technological projects demonstrating innovative ways of solving problems reducing drudgery or generating efficiency or conserving resources.
- The projects demonstrating application of known scientific concepts or theories will not be accepted.
- Traditional knowledge practices documented from elders in and around one’s family.
- Information about some other innovators in the neighborhood.
