REPORT ON SCIFFI 2022

Science has a vital role in nation-building. With its rich traditional knowledge and customs, its youth, and most importantly, its drive and with this desire and determination to prosper, India looks at Science as a vehicle to meet aspiration of its people. Vidnyan Parishad, Goa, a unit of Vijnana Bharati, a Swadeshi science movement, is playing a role in this context by organising the Science Film Festival in Goa. The seventh edition of the SCI-FFI, India’s science film festival, kicked off at Inox Panaji on 26-28 April 2022 in Goa. Dr. Paramod Sawant, the Chief Minister, officially opened the three-day festival. The festival, which took place at the Inox Complex and Maquinez Palace was a great success. Various events such as the Go-vidnyan expo, Innovation expo, Institutional expo, screening of various science films and documentaries, Indian knowledge system, students science village, robotics workshop were held under the banner of SCI-FFI 2022.

A team from Don Bosco college of Engineering namely Shahul Ahmed, Keenan Cardozo, Akshay Batule, Nirbhay Borkar and Sahil Chitrapur guided by Prof. Gaurish Samant – Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering.  participated in the innovation expo with their prototype of Oxygen Concentrator. The cost for the prototype is Rs. 50,000 and was built using indigenously sourced parts but the cost can be further reduce when mass produced, which is far less than the ones available in the commercial market. This concentrator can be used by 2-3 patients simultaneously depending upon the severity. It is also integrated with IOT so that the parameters such as oxygen purity can be remotely monitored.  Eldrich Godinho, Valen D’Souza, Riff Fernandes, Alan Fernandes and Chris Fernandes displayed their drone used for spraying pesticides on coconuts precisely. A camera attached to the drone sends real time pictures to a mobile app which enables spraying based on the live images. The students were ably supported by Prof. Ajit Salunke – HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr.Neena Panandikar – Principal and Fr. Kinley D’ Cruz – Director.

The expo drew over 3000 students from various schools and universities, as well as members of the general public allowing the team to display their prototype to a large number of audience gaining public and media exposure.