The year 2011 is the ‘International Year of Forest’. With the aim of sensitising the public to the different environmental issues that need immediate action, SBOA School & Junior College, Anna Nagar, organised ‘Environex 2011’, an arts and science exhibition at the school on November 14.
The exhibition, which had 60 pavilions on the theme ‘Environment’, was an eye-opener on many aspects such as Nature’s gifts to man and how technology has a direct and indirect impact on the environment. The Physics pavilion threw light on the different alternative energy sources available and new construction plans for buildings. The students presented various models including green city, non-renewable energy and energy utilisation by transport systems and other domestic purposes.
At the Chemistry pavilion, visitors got an opportunity to experience snowfall in Chennai and learned how to recycle kitchen waste, make a silica garden in their drawing rooms, and use water as fuel. The Eutrophication effect on aquatic animals, innovative ecosolutions, biosoil and the different aspects of global warming, the art of growing plants without soil, eco-friendly kitchen cleaner from papaya and bioplastic from potato were the highlights of the Biology pavilion.
The History pavilion featured ‘Namma Chennai 372’ which was a tour into nostalgia with photos and models of historic heritage buildings like Fort St George, Central Station, St Andrews Church, Anna University and details on eco-tourism spots. Terrace farming, irrigation, natural disasters like volcanoes, earthquakes, flood, cyclones, and tsunami models, along with methods to overcome disasters were the features of the Geography pavilion.
The Arts and Crafts pavilion which showcased paintings and craft items created by budding artists was a treat to the eyes. Disposal of e-waste was the focus of the Computer Science pavilion which provided complete e-world information including the ill effects of excessive use of mobile phones, the need to be alert while using the ATM. The Commerce pavilion came up with ways to save trees by elaborating on the paperless functions in the banking sector, e-Commerce, sustainable agribusiness and green capitalisation.
The tiny tots from the kindergarten and primary sections wowed the audience with their message of alphabetic flora and fauna, Asian cuisine, and the agricultural practices of the ancient and modern era. Some of the other interesting projects were the Maths, French and Tamil pavillions.
The event was inaugurated by Dr P Iyamperumal, Director, Tamil Nadu, Science & Technology Centre and presided over by D Suresh Kumar, President, SBIOA Educational Trust. DTS Rao, Regional Officer, CBSE, Chennai released the exhibition souvenir.