In a bid to provide young innovators the chance to showcase and hone their skills and acquired knowledge, the Department of Chemistry, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa in collaboration with Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, organised the 4th Annual Festival of Innovation: ‘Goa’s Young Innovators’. The state level competition on innovations for schools, higher secondary schools and college students was coordinated by Dr Teotone Vaz, Shivta Mhamal and Flavia S Travasso.
A total of 35 institutions participated in the Festival of Innovations and showcased their talents, creativity and ideas through innovative working models, thus making use of technology for a better society. The participants were provided with an opportunity to interact and discuss their innovative ideas with Sanjay Mulvi and Satyam Kudtarkar, resource persons from Centre for Incubation and Business Acceleration (CIBA), Verna, who were special invitees for the event. The event also saw the active participation of students in the Poster Making, Quiz and Scientific Group Dance competitions.
The one-day state level event commenced with a PowerPoint presentation on innovative ideas by young students from across the country, prepared by Flavia Travasso.
Fr Zeferino D’Souza, College Administrator, emphasised on the need for innovative ideas for a brighter future and urged the students to think of innovations for a social cause to make people’s lives happier and safer.
Dr Blanche Mascarenhas, Principal, addressed the young students to advocate creative thinking and urged them to inculcate the qualities of self confidence, discipline, innovativeness and perseverance in order to succeed in any field.
The Head of Department, Janesline Fernandes, highlighted the numerous achievements of the Chemistry Department and introduced the Chief Guest and Keynote speaker Dr Niyan Marchon, Associate Professor, Electronics and Telecommunication Department, PCCE, Verna-Goa.
Dr Niyan in his inspiring Keynote Address spoke on ‘Impact of Technology and Innovation on Healthcare’. He highlighted the various innovations in the healthcare sector which have helped to make life better, healthier and safer.
Satish Patil, Assistant Manager, Cipla Pvt. Ltd., Verna- Goa, Chief Guest for the valedictory function, gave away the prizes to the winners of the different competitions in the various categories.
The event was a grand success and witnessed young minds from across Goa who displayed their innovations for a better, safer and smarter future for the people of Goa, of our country and of the society at large.