Together with their new American friends, a group of students from Kolkata have developed prototypes to absorb excess CO2 emission, remove pathogens from hospital air, and purify waste from tanneries.
As part of a student-exchange programme to learn how innovations developed originally for space travel could solve environmental challenges, a group of 12 school students from America are in the city to work on collaborative projects.
"Most of the hospitals have closed environments fitted with air conditioners. The closed circulation of air there are contaminated with pathogens and spread infection. We've developed a prototype to purify the air, which may be used inside a hospital to keep the patients safe from more infections," said class XI student Sukanya Majumder of Delhi Public School, Ruby Park, Kolkata.
Another team 'Wacky Earthlings' has developed a prototype to purify tannery waste and generate power in the process.
Tannery waste contains chromium ions which are highly toxic. The prototype removes ions by precipitating the waste with Sodium Hydroxide and the resultant solution is used to produce electricity.
Another team has designed a device that can be installed in almost every source emitting CO2, from exhaust pipes of cars, buses to factory chimneys and everything in between, to reduce air pollution by adsorbing the excess emission.
The 'Hacking Space: A Museums Connect program' is funded
by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Science City in Kolkata and Chabot Space & Science Centre, America are working with the young talents on this programme.
"Personally I love this kind of programme that allows students and citizens across the globe to delve into issues impacting their local communities and to work together to address some of humanity's most pressing challenges like climate change," the US Consulate's Public Affairs Officer Andrew Posner said.
Science City Director Arijit Dutta Chowdhury said many innovations like solar energy, water purifiers, etc were originally made for space travel but they are already finding use in our daily lives here on earth.
"We want to find out more such innovations which can provide solutions to our environmental and sustainability challenges we face in Kolkata and in California," he said.
A batch of Indian students will travel to Chabot Space & Science Centre in California next month.
