C.P. Ravikumar
Texas Instruments
A couple of years ago, I was invited to be one of the judges in a science fair conducted by a local school. The event was supported by a company and the local arrangements were impressive. Most students had come from rural parts of Karnataka. The enthusiasm with which they showed off their projects was exemplary. There was only one thing that could have been improved - the projects. I had a deja vu experience when I witnessed projects that explained the functioning of the human digestive system. "That was my project!" I wanted to shout, but held myself, realizing that it may have also been the project of the judge who came to my science fair years ago. Many projects in the science fair (that I judged) were repeated - I saw at least a dozen models of solar water heaters. Some of them were only show-and-tell models. Similarly, there were many projects with the theme of obtaining fuel from cow dung - of course, they were only illustrations of the concept.
I mentioned to the organizers and my fellow judges that many new technologies are entirely missing from the science fair. What about the use of wireless sensor technology in rural applications? What about projects on healthcare for a growing population? What about projects on home safety? What about projects on telecommunication? None of these had a "fair" representation.
Science projects are carried out by students in the guidance of their teachers. I have had a chance to meet some of the schoolteachers from rural areas and they have very little exposure to the state-of-the-art. I laud the effort of the organizers of the science fair who had organized the display of some "modern" projects in a lab on wheels; this van goes around from school to school during the year, displaying the projects and providing an opportunity for the school teachers and students to witness some modern ideas.
What is needed is a 100x reform - a way to bring technology into the hands of the students and give them an opportunity to do something hands-on. After all, the prices of semiconductors have fallen steeply over the years and modern technology has become more and more affordable. I suppose both the demand and supply exist, but effort is needed to work on a distribution mechanism. Some of our friends from NSIT and DTU took a step in that direction when they organized several "maker workshops" at the Maker Fest held in Ahmedabad earlier this month. Under the guidance of Prof. Dhananjay Gadre, they put together these hands-on workshops:
- Batteryless dice
- Battery less TV remote controller
- LED pen for doodling
- Eye Loupe
- Homopolar motor
The team consisted of Nidhi Sharma, Rohit Gupta, Ishan Pardesi, Saral Aggarwal, Ritika Malik, Netal Yadav and Priyanshi Jain - students of NSIT and DTU, Delhi. Braving the cold weather, they travelled by train from Delhi to Ahmedabad. Their workshops saw the participation of young school students, teachers, and professionals. Everyone who came to the workshop had a chance to become a maker by making something using the electronic components that the team had taken with them. "The workshops we offered were one of its kind among the things offered in the fest," says Netal Yadav. "Our team taught the participants to make from the scratch on their own and ensured that everyone built successful makes. All participants, got to take home fully products that they made their own hands at the end of the workshops." The team won many hearts and some of these are displayed below. Mind you, these hearts throb and are empowered by the MSP430.
Like the heart, several "make"s were based on Texas Instruments analog integrated circuits and the MSP430 microcontroller. The visitors went gaga over the batteryless dice and remote controller, which illustrate the principle of harvesting energy. Shake the remote controller to charge the supercapacitor and it gives you enough energy to use the remote for a few seconds. Needless to say, the visitors to these workshops turned into makers and shakers. And no, there is no truth to the rumour that an electronic salt-and-pepper-shaker is being designed at TI CEPD. It's a good idea, though.
That is the kind of science fairs that I am talking about. We perhaps need week-long workshops to train the science and math teachers. Prof. Gadre and his students may be even willing to help with such efforts. Meanwhile, if you wish to organize a maker workshop at your campus, the team may be willing to go! Just send a mail to Prof. Gadre. The makers are busy right now with some projects that they are getting ready for the summer. What's happening in summer, you might ask. My lips are sealed and I will only tell when the time comes.