The second edition of Maker Fest Odisha is just around the corner and like last year, it will be held at the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla. Maker Fest is conceptualised along the lines of Maker Faire, conducted across the world, which is known to celebrate innovation and creativity. The motive behind Maker Fest too is a joyous celebration of both creators and creativity. To be conducted from February 15 to 17, this three-day fest promises to be a fun affair which will both excite and engage you. Last year, about 40 makers were part of this fest where more than 6,000 school students and 2,000 college students took part.
So, what can we expect from the fest this time? We asked the organisers just that. "It is a chance for all of us, who have different innovations to share, to come together under one single roof and interact with each other. And in this bargain, we can all also grow together," say Bibhu Datta Panda and Anshuman Pattanaik, who are the Chief Organisers. This year, they are expecting 50 makers to participate and if you want to know who they are, their Facebook page has it all. The team has invited schools and colleges from Bargarh, Sambhalpur and Jharsuguda districts and are trying to go beyond to ensure that this edition receives a huge turnout.
So, what can one expect at the Maker Fest Odisha? We talk to two students whose projects will be displayed to give you a glimpse.
No baggage
Snehal Saurav, Subrat Samantraya and Subrajit Kumar Naik looked at labourers who toiled at construction sites under the hard sun, lifting heavy loads on their heads and felt that it wasn't right. They went back and did some research and found that this kind of strain puts some serious stress on the spinal cord and the ribcage. To combat this, the trio came up with a solution that distributes it to the whole body. Think of it as an open-air backpack for bricks. "These labourers used to carry six to seven bricks of three to five kgs, but by using our solution, they can carry 15 to 16 bricks without any discomfort," explains Snehal. They have even tested it on labourers at sites and observed how the device truly makes things easy for them. The second-year students of Mechanical Engineering from VSSUT are open to making modifications depending on the challenges they face.
Flush it down
Shree Bohidar has worked on three models which will be displayed at the Maker Fest Odisha. One is a garbage disposal system which generates electricity when biodegradable waste is disposed of in them. Then there is the GSM-based air pollution detector which sends messages to vehicle and industry owners when the pollution levels in the area run high. But one of the most fascinating projects of this class VII student of Sundargarh Public School is the Clean Toilet Project, which she has even submitted to the local municipality and which has been approved for implementation. If anyone leaves a washroom unflushed, a buzzer is activated and the electromagnetic door locks itself until you flush the toilet. So, what does the 12-year-old want to be when she grows up? "I want to be a scientist," she says proudly.
