Budding science superstars of the city outshone themselves at the Science Olympiad as six of them secured international ranks in the exams conducted by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). 45 lakh students from over 34 thousand schools across 1400 cities in India as well as 22 other countries took part in the ultimate science challenge for the academic year 2015-16.
The SOF conducts four Olympiad exams – National Cyber Olympiad (NCO), National Science Olympiad (NSO), International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) and International English Olympiad (IEO).
Chinmayi Ramasubramanian was the star of the night when she was awarded the first rank in the National Science Olympiad (NSO). The class 4 student of Sri Kumaran Children’s Home English Nursery & Primary School was the only one among the Bengaluru achievers to secure a gold medal.
Securing second rank in the same exam was Nithilan Ravikumar, a class 3 students from Delhi Public School, South Bengaluru.
Among those securing the second rank and being awarded the silver medal in the National Cyber Olympiad (NCO) were Tvisha Chandra, a class 4 student, studying in Inventure Academy; Garg Shali of class 5, Vibgyor High School and Aryan Srivastav of class 7, studying in Sri Kumaran Children’s Home.
Pranjali Srivastav of class 6, National Public School, Koramangala achieved the second rank in International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO).
While the first ranker was given a cash prize of Rs 50,000, those who stood second, were given the same of Rs 25,000. Also, ten principals and 40 teachers from the awarded schools were felicitated as well for motivating their students to shine bright in the Olympiad exams.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / Deepika Barli / TNN / June 16th, 2016
The awardees are seen with Ln. Dr. Kiran, Ln. Sriprakash, Ln. H.G. Vittala, Ln. P. Rajan, Ln. K.K. Mohan, Ln. Y.N. Satish, Brig. Dr. R.S. Rajan, Ln. Nasir Mohammed, M.N. Krishnaswamy, Ln. T.V. Somaprabhu, Ln. R.Y. Arun, Ln. Prof. K.P. Kumar, Ln. G. Manjunath, Ln. M.P. Satish Babu, Ln. N.V. Satish, Ln. K.J. Balakrishna, Ln. R.G. Shankar, Ln. Dr. Nayana Kiran and Ln. Smitha Devaiah.
Mysuru :
Dakshina Kesari SSLC Toppers-2016 Award, instituted by Lions Club of Mysore South, was presented to 65 students who have scored 615 and above marks in the recently held SSLC examination at a colourful function held at Viswa Prajna auditorium in city recently.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest, Brig. Dr. R.S. Rajan VSM, who is the Director of Vivekananda Institute for Leadership Development, Mysuru, advised the achievers to follow three factors for success in life. They are strict upkeep of the health, which includes physical, intellectual and spiritual; aptitude for hard work even at the adverse circumstances and following a compassionate life style to help the fellow being whenever the need arises.
M. N. Krishnaswamy, Working President of Viswa Prajna High School, who was the guest of honour, reminded the students that there is a great demand for good teachers in our country and they should seriously consider becoming teachers as a career option.
Ln. T.V. Somaprabhu, President, Lions South, presided. Ln. Sriprakash introduced the chief guest. Ln. P. Rajan compered. Ln. K.K. Mohan proposed a vote of thanks.
The following are the recipients of the award:
1. N.S. Eashu (624), 2. K. Akshay Rao (624), 3. N. Aishwarya (623), 4. T.S. Shrinidhi (623), 5. R. Adarsh Kamath (622), 6. Shashank S. Holla (622), 7. M.P. Rajatha (622), 8. B. Anusha (621), 9. Sinchana Vaasanthi (621), 10. S. Ravi Shankar (621), 11. C. Yathish Kumar (621), 12. Ancy Jasmine D’Melo (621), 13. S. Yashaswini (621), 14. P. Prajwal (621), 15. C. Nimisha (620), 16. S. Sougandhini (620), 17. N. Chirag (620), 18. S. Suraj (620), 19. M.R. Chiranjeevi (620), 20. P.B. Swathi (619), 21. K.M. Manthini (619), 22. Jyothsna J. Herle (619), 23. G.M. Mahesh (619), 24. H.M. Suma (619), 25. M.N. Harshini (619), 26. P. Sneha (619), 27. B.S. Drithee (619), 28. J. Kavana (618), 29. H.P. Pruthvi (618), 30. A.S. Chaithra (618), 31. C.G. Sushmitha (618), 32. G. Chinthan (618), 33. H.S. Inchara (618), 34. Achal N. Adiga (618), 35. A. Ranjan Kumar (617), 36. Spoorthi Ramesh (617), 37. S. Vindhya (617), 38. Lakshmi Priya (617), 39. M.K. Chandan (617), 40. N. Rahul (617), 41. G.B. Shrujan Raj (617), 42. M.C.
Parva (617), 43. Poojadarshini (617), 44. B. Rahul (617), 45. B.M. Srilakshmi (617), 46. R. Rajath Rao (617), 47. Padmashree Karnam (617), 48. M.S. Anusha (617), 49. M. Milind (616), 50. P. Ramya Chandrika (616), 51. M. Sanjana (616), 52. Rakshitha D. Gowda (616), 53. R. Kruthika (616), 54. Sanjana B. Gowda (616), 55. Calvina Maben (615), 56. S. Sharath Chandra (615), 57. Rithik Srinivas Raj (615), 58. A. Tanush (615), 59. K.M. Tejaswini (615), 60. Ananya M. Bhat (615), 61. M.P. Deepika (615), 62. S. Yavanica (615), 63. Kruthi N. Swamy (615), 64. P.M. Niranjan Naidu (615) and 65. Bhoomika Prasad (615).
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / June 07th, 2016
It’s payback time for 40 MBA students of the 1995 batch of the Indian Institute of Management , Bangalore (IIMB). Twenty-one years after graduation, they all have come together to raise Rs 17 lakh to sponsor a discussion room that was inaugurated at the campus last month.
“We were a batch of 220 students. Years may have passed, but memories of our college days remain quite strong. The plan to give something back to our institute was there for a long time and 40 of us made it a reality this year,” said Raghavendra R, senior director at Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
He said the institute played a major role in bringing the alumni together. “Every growing organization needs funds. Ours being an interactive and engaging batch, recognized this aspect and contributed how much ever we could. We just wanted to do something that the institute as well we could cherish,” he added.
Around 450 former students participated in Anusmaran, the annual alumni meet of the B-school, on Saturday.
“Over the years, Anusmaran has become a part of our lives. We catch up with fellow alumni and share, learn, have fun and enrich our experience. We have tested many formats and reinvented it to make it more relevant and vibrant,” said Navin Kumar, convener of the event, organized by the Bangalore chapter of the IIMB Alumni Association.
Prof Vasanthi Srinivasan, chairperson, Alumni Relations, IIMB, believes that there are two aspects that determine healthy relations between the alumni and their alma mater. “The experience that students share when they study in the institute and the connection they maintain with the institute after they graduate are vital to having a good alumni base. We try to bring our alumni back to the institute in every possible way. Sometimes, we get them for interviewing prospective candidates or for mentoring programmes,” she added.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City>Bangalore / TNN / June 05th, 2016
The Astronomical Observatory at Excel Public School in Hootagalli has been active since two years in observing the heavens effortlessly. It is an encomiastic endeavour by the institution in establishing an observatory to impart excellent astronomy education.
Amateur astronomer Kiran Prasad
Most of the people take at least a passing interest in astronomy; after all, the skies are all around us, and not even the most myopic observer can fail to appreciate the Sun, the Moon and the Stars! But astronomy as a serious hobby is quite another matter. Sky is always the limit. ‘Sky Watching’ is one of the most fascinating, enjoying and thrilling experience. If we witness the sky on a dark, clear night we can see billions of stars.
The sky is the laboratory, observation is the experiment, and eyes are the equipment. A significant amount of basic astronomical science can be accomplished without any observing device other than the human eye. The Astronomical Observatory at Excel Public School (EPS), Mysuru, provides us an opportunity to understand the grandeur of astronomy or essence of sky-watching.
EPS, a part of Excelsoft Technologies Private Limited, a multinational educational E-software solution development organisation, was started in 2009 in the campus of this software company. The School is the brain child of Dhananjaya, Chairman, Excelsoft Technologies and Sudhanva, Chief Executive Officer, Excelsoft Technologies, Hootagalli, Mysuru.
The school has focused on being a state-of-the-art facility with varied field in imparting education to the children from the onset. An Astronomy division was started for the benefit of the children of EPS under the K12 division, which is an extended education based programme that goes beyond the regular text book curriculum.
The idea was to provide quality education to the students and to augment the diverse interests of the individual.
The Astronomy division began to function during the opportune moment of ‘International Year of Astronomy’ in 2009, a worldwide programme where in amateur and professional astronomers from around the world took to their telescopes to watch the celestial wonders of the sky to commemorate Galileo’s 400th year anniversary of observation of Jupiter and its satellites.
For this purpose, as a long term investment at a cost of about Rs. 10 lakh, EPS installed the state-of-the-art 14 inch CGE PRO XLT Starbright equatorial mount Celestron GOTO Schmidt Cassegrain telescope with focal length of 3910 mm/ F11 for the school observatory for regular sky-watching programmes for the children and for occasional public viewing.
Open for general public on a regular basis, it had a huge impact on the minds of the people. The initial Galilean night sky-watching programme proved a definitive platform and impetus for us to reach huge number of enthusiasts in the astronomy field and added value to our approach of providing the best in all fields of education. During that time, it was greatly assisted by Dr. S.N. Prasad, a retired professor of Physics, Regional Institute of Education.
The 14-inch observatory class computer operated telescope is a fully multicoated Schmidt – Cassegrain telescope with multi-coated Plossl eyepieces accessory, which is a very high resolution powered instrument just perfect to see very faint celestial objects up to 14 magnitudes. It has the light gathering power of 2560 times the naked eye limit. The 8-inch Altazimuth CPC 800 GPS integrated telescope being smaller and more portable with focal length of 2032 mm/F10 is quite powerful and has the light gathering power of 850 times the naked eye limit. Both the telescopes can be mounted on a super sturdy steel tripods and dampers and preloaded with 40000 objects in its memory, like NGC, Caldwell, IC, Messier and Abel catalogues. With plenty of interchangeable lenses to go with, the sky is not the limit and with magnification extending more than 400 times, objects such as galaxies, as far as millions of light years, is clearly visible.
The best way to enjoy the beauty of the star-studded night sky is to use our eyes only, without being encumbered with optical aids like binoculars and telescopes. In fact, the wide angle of vision that observation with unaided eye allows is not available if we look through a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Astronomical observations, like any other walk of life today, have been profoundly revolutionised by the “silicon chip.” The CELESTRON 14” is a computer controlled reflecting telescope, where the computer is controlled by an Intel 8052, 12 MHz microprocessor. The Compustar Computer displays the co-ordinates, type, magnitude, size and visual quality of each astronomical object being observed. It incorporates Celestron’s acclaimed Schmidt – Cassegrain optical system. The system has three elements; the Schmidt corrector, a concave primary mirror and a convex secondary mirror. The corrector plate lens looks like a flat window at the front of the telescope. The curved concave primary mirror is situated at the back, and fastened to the centre of the Schmidt corrector plate is the secondary convex mirror which faces the primary mirror. The rugged heavy duty castings used for mechanical components provide vibration free performance.
All this would amount to nothing if there would not have been a dedicated full-time staff to handle the department and conduct all the programmes related to Astronomy. Amateur astronomer Kiran Prasad is the person responsible for this extended education training and regular sessions of in-class lesson and sky-watch is being conducted at the school premises under him. Due to phenomenal growth of the school, the school has now been shifted from its old Excelsoft premises to its own sprawling new campus with its roof top observatory, which is a ideal setting since it is a little out of limits of urban light pollution.
The institution also provides an extensive programme for visual and photographic studies. Visual studies include lunar, planetary and deep sky observations, and intend to lay particular emphasis on near planets and their features like the cloud belts of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. The photographic studies with their Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) couples to the COMPUSTAR, have found from the past experience with the CELESTRON 8” telescope that the quality of photographs are both superior and aesthetic. On occasion of special astronomical events, many important and useful photographs have been captured by amateur astronomers and student enthusiasts. The telescope is serving not only the cause of school students, also for the student community of other institutions in the city and rural areas.
Over 2000 students and amateur astronomers have availed the facility of the observatory. As the eternal unconquered regions of space beacon man with a challenge, it is the cherished desire of Excel Public School that the students who pass through its portals, gaze in wonder at the breathtaking creations of nature and develop a quest for knowledge and exploration of the unknown.
For those whom the cosmos serves as a source of inspiration, CELESTRON 14” will be the first step of satisfaction to reveal the opulence of astronomy. For further details, contact Mob: 97415-16348 or visit Excel Public School, annex BEML Engine Division, Mysuru.
—Prof. S.A. Mohan Krishna, Amateur Astronomer
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / June 01st, 2016
Dr. T. S. Harsha, Chairman, DoS in Environmental Science, KSOU, Mysuru, was awarded Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rashtriya Puraskar by the Global Management Council (GMC), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, recently in recognition of his contribution to the field of education.
GMC, an apex body that promotes and encourages commendable achievements from all over the country, regularly organises national-level seminars with the help of its members to promote socially responsible education practices and sustainable development in economic as well social front in India.
This Puraskar is given to those eminent teachers, lecturers, professors, researchers, scholars and personalities, who have contributed substantially in the field of education but have not been noticed and duly recognised by the society. The award comprised a trophy, an appreciation certificate and a gold medal.
In addition to this honour, the Council has nominated Dr. Harsha as the Editorial Board Member for Glacier Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Science field.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 29th, 2016
With cameras becoming more accessible and user-friendly, many people are developing a passion for photography. But setting the right frame for a perfect picture is something only a trained photographer would know.
Members of the 43-year-old Youth Photographic Society train aspiring photographers.
The group, founded in 1971, conducted a portrait workshop on May 22. The subjects for the portraits were Yakshagana artistes.
K S Srinivas, senior photographer and a group member, taught aspirants how to take pictures in different lights and various techniques in photography. The group also launched their website and a Facebook page on that day.
You can also sign up for regular lessons. “Regular workshops are conducted on first and third Saturdays where those interested get together to learn the nuances of photography,” says H Satish, president of the group since two months. “The workshops are taken by eminent photographers in the group.”
On June 4, the members will be taught macro photography and on June 5, they have planned an outing to Lal bagh.
The team also goes out together to click pictures. Their subjects change with season. “We go to Western Ghats in monsoon for macro photography. When it rains, smaller lifeforms such as insects and butterflies and frogs, come out,” he says.
They go for landscape photography from October to December to capture green expanses and waterfalls.
“The air also will be pure and sky will be clear,” says Satish who has been member of the group since 33 years.
As wildlife comes to watering holes in summer, the group journeys to spot them. These trips are planned for between March and May. They conduct an event called All India Photography Salon where about 5,000 entries come in every year. This is the 35th year of the competition to be held in October.
The group, which does not charge for the classes or workshops, also encourages the photographers by exhibiting their work at the their centre.
Deepak Kumar, a member of the group for 10 years, says, “My passion for photography made me join the group. I learnt the composition of pictures. As the senior photographers have worked on films (reels), they know the subject in depth. The workshops they conduct are quite enriching.”
The group is open to any photo enthusiasts 14 years and above. The one time membership fee is `500 for a year.
For details contact H Satish at 94486 87595.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Pratima Shantaveerish / Express News Service / May 26th, 2016
From launching a startup to topping one of the toughest entrance exams in the country, this Bengaluru boy did it all in a year’s time.
Viraj Ananth (18) emerged the top ranker in the All-India Rankings in the general category when the results of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) were announced on Sunday evening.
Science student
A science student from the Vidyashilp Academy, he took a gap year after his Cambridge exams coincided with the CLAT last year, making it difficult to appear for the test for admissions to the National Law Schools.
With no marks card in hand, he decided to put his year off to good use.
“My friend and I started Intermind Global, which tied up with schools and held public speaking workshops for students,” he told The Hindu.
By October, Viraj decided to start preparing for CLAT, nursing his law school dream he had harboured since class 11. With a last-minute monthlong crash course in a Chennai-based coaching centre, he was good to go.
‘Unorthodox advice’
“I have some unorthodox advice to give others. Find yourself a mentor, someone from a law school, if possible. Find a study partner as well, and concentrate on GK. Almost 80 per cent of my preparations were for GK,” he said.
Viraj, who studied in Bishop Cottons Boys School, is exploring his options in law, including sports law, international humanitarian law, and corporate law.
His first choice is the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. A resident of Sadashivanagar, his father, Ananth Ramaswami, works for a Canadian aviation company, and his mother, Sapna Ramaswami, is a teacher.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – May 23rd, 2016
Who says you cannot master your mother tongue in a foreign land?
A Class 10 student, who was born in Karnataka but did most of her early schooling outside the state, has proved that no formal training is needed when it comes to love for your mother tongue.
Shreya, who is currently studying in Kundapur of Udupi District in Karnataka, has scored 99 out of 100 in Kannada in her board exams.
This despite the fact that Kannada was not a part of her curriculum during most part of her school education.
She has scored 600 out of 625 marks in the SSLC Class 10 exam.
Starting her education at Mumbai’s St Xavier’s play school, Shreya has studied in Lagos (Nigeria), Tanzania, Uganda, Kundapur (Karnataka), Nairobi (Kenya), Hubli (Karnataka) and Druck (Bhutan).
Shreya started her schooling from Mumbai’s St Xavier’s play school, then did her LKG in Lagos (Nigeria). She completed her UKG, 1st and 2nd standard in Tanzania, 3rd standard in Uganda.
She returned to India for a year and did her 4th standard from Kundapur.
She did the first term of her 5th standard in Nairobi, and second term in Hubli of Karnataka.
For 6th and 7th standard she was in Tumkur and for 8th and 9th standard in Bhutan’s Druck.
Finally, she returned to Kundapur for her SSLC.
Delighted with her result, she credits her teachers and parents for helping in Kannada. Like her father, Shreya also wants to be a Chartered Accountant.
(Content Courtesy: vijaykarnataka)
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / May 18th, 2016
A group photo of the Stakeholders at the interactive session held at CFTRI recently.
Mysuru :
CSIR- Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysuru, had organised a half-a-day Stakeholders Meet involving the Growers, Processors and Market Players in the Banana Processing Industry recently to create a robust food value chain, which would be beneficial to the processing industry.
There were press reports during December 2015 that farmers were forced to sell banana for a meagre Rs. 2 per kg. In this context, AcSIR students as part of their project studies initiated interactions with farmers of Chamarajanagar district.
Accordingly, around 2 tonnes of fresh banana was procured and processed at the Institute’s Pilot Plant, packed and stored in cold storage. Some of the buyers were brought to the loop for the purchase of banana pulp. Samples were sent to pulp exporters for evaluation of products from their end. And some quantity of the pulp was sold through this route.
New plant variety : Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ram Rajasekharan, Director, CSIR-CFTRI, stated that the Institute would be releasing a new plant variety which has the potential to protect banana crop from spoilage. The plant can be grown as an inter-crop along with other plantations.
The Institute asserted to work for establishing a semi-processing unit through farmers co-operatives with support from Government and other agencies, transfer of technology free of cost to such agri-enterprises, training and creating a network amongst them for ensuring proper returns to growers.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 12th, 2016
H.S. Srikanth flanked by his parents Shantharaju and Sowbhagya.
Mysuru :
The results of UPSC Civil Services (Main) exam was declared yesterday. H.S. Srikanth of Mysuru has secured 56th rank in the exam thus bringing glory to the city.
Darshan of Davangere topped the rankers from the State, securing 48th rank while H. S. Srikanth of the city came second.
The other successful candidates from the State include Srinivasgowda (105th rank), Nivya Shetty (274), Akash Gowda (959), Pavan Kumar (420) and T.N. Nagesh (782).
Srikanth, son of retired Assistant Director of Agriculture Shantharaju and Sowbhagya couple, is a resident of Ramakrishnanagar here.
After completing his primary education at Carmel Convent in Nanjangud, Srikanth studied PUC at Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Yadavagiri and got his Mechanical Engineering degree from NIE in 2011. He later did his M.Tech at UVCE, Bengaluru.
Speaking to SOM after the announcement of UPSC results, Srikanth said he was extremely happy about the results.
Giving a brief on his Post-degree career, Srikanth said he had passed SBI Officers competitive exam and had also worked for Indian Aerospace in New Delhi for three months. Besides, he was also selected by the WIPRO.
Pointing out that all his family members were extremely happy about his performance in the Civil Services exam, Srikanth said he dreamt of becoming an IAS officer and this has been realised now.
Stating that he had attempted the UPSC exams three times earlier he said that he just could not make it last year. However, he continued with his studies and performed better to secure the 56th rank this time, he said while recalling the encouragement given by his teachers, lecturers, parents and relatives.
Manivannan inspired him
Noting that senior IAS Officer P. Manivannan, who had served as Mysuru Deputy Commissioner a few years ago, was a big inspiration for him, Srikanth said he learnt about Manivannan’s success story from the media. Besides, Manivannan had given useful tips to him which was very helpful in the exam.
He further said that C. Basavaraj and A.B. Ibrahim, who had earlier served in Mysuru too inspired him and expressed his gratitude to all those who helped him in achieving this feat.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / May 11th, 2016
