Mangaluru : Pilikula Regional Science Centre Director Prof K V Rao said that Pilikula will be facilitated with an Innovation Hub by the next academic year.

Speaking to mediapersons during the National Science Day observed by Pilikula Regional Science Centre in Mangaluru on Sunday, he said the objective of the project is to provide encouragement to students who have scientific temper. The marks scored by the students are not considered. It is not for the schoolchildren alone. Any child with innovative mind and interest in Science, can be a part of the Innovation hub.

He said the total cost of the project is Rs 1.8 crore. 50-50 funding has been done by the Central and the State government. This apart, the State government, through the department of Science and Technology will provide Rs 20 lakh per year, for the period of three years, for conducting of activities.

Funding by Karnataka Council for Technology Upgradation will be provided to the eligible innovations, under the project, Prof K V Rao said.

The Detailed Project Report towards the Innovation Hub is being prepared and tender process will be initiated soon. The project will come to reality in the next academic year.

As a part of National Science Day, Pilikula Regional Science Centre organised various events under the theme ‘Make in India: Science and Technology Driven Innovations’. Project exhibitions were held on the premises of Regional Science Centre where students of various engineering colleges displayed their works.

Students of St Joseph Engineering College exhibited their project ‘Bricks from Waste Plastic’. In this project, plastic waste is heated, melted and moulded into blocks. These bricks could be used for flooring and for the laying of interlocks, the students said and added that research is on to produce heat resistant bricks.

By converting waste plastic to brick form, landfill space can be reduced, said St Joseph College Mechanical Department Assistant Professor Noel Shiri, who has guided the project team. Students of Srinivas Institute of Technology exhibited an unmanned aerial vehicle developed by them.

High school students too exhibited their projects. 185 students from 12 colleges displayed their projects and 19 teams presented their ideas. Idea presentation, pick and speak and paining competitions were held as a part of the Science Day. Training was also held for science teachers on subjects of biotechnology, robotics, electronics and communication. 35 teachers, 120 high school students and 185 college students took part.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel inaugurated the 1.75 km-long interlock pavement laid inside the Biological Park for the convenience of visitors, constructed under the MP lad fund of Rs 33 lakh. Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, Dr Shivarama Karantha Biological Park Executive Director Dr S A Prabhakar Sharma and Biological Park Head Jayaprakash Bhandary were present among others.

The MP also inaugurated the folk fest ‘Suggi – Huggi,’ organised by the department of Kannada and Culture.

Various folk art troupes from Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Mysuru and Mandya performed tiger dance, Gigi Pada, Dollu Kunita, Puja Kunita and so on. Volleyball matches were also held on the occasion. Former Mister World Raymond D’Souza inaugurated the volleyball tournament.