Creating Ripples - Students, Science and Society

The pulse of excitement was palpable, the festive spirit hard to miss. The atmosphere carried the energy of a doctoral defense – students checking their theses and preparing for their presentations. At the Anveshana showcase – 2025 edition, esteemed scientists – authorities in their fields, came together for a shared cause - to celebrate and nurture young researchers. In the current academic scenario, students are exposed to research only after postgraduation when flexibility is limited and thinking processes are firmly etched. Prayoga envisions Anveshana as an opportunity to make research accessible to high school students. This early introduction – nearly a decade ahead of the norm - equips them to process information critically and devise solutions to real-life contemporary scientific challenges, marking the ignition of the innovation engine for the nation.

Now in its 4th edition since its launch in 2022, the Anveshana program has grown into a vibrant platform for young, passionate science students. Over the years, 114 students have participated with 37 projects completed. The collective efforts culminating in 11 publications – a testament to both their potential and the program’s impact.

The showcase event for Anveshana 2025 edition took place on the 22nd of August 2025 at Prayoga Institute of Education Research. Over the course of the day, the stage was set for 53 young researchers to present their work in the form of posters and oral presentations on 17 projects, in front of an august audience that included distinguished scientists on the panel, donors, and sponsor agencies, school representatives, parents and members of the Prayoga family. Dr. P R Krishnaswamy, a luminary in biomedical science and Prof. T N Guru Row, Honorary Professor, Indian Institute of Science and an eminent Materials Scientist graced the event as chief guests.

Dr. H S Nagaraja, Founder and Chief Mentor, Prayoga, welcomed the gathering remarking, ‘The way India can take back its rightful coveted place in the world is through research’. His words resonated with the spirit of the event, which nurtures and celebrates the perseverance and scientific spirit of students as they embark on their research journey.

Dignitaries at the event (clockwise: sitting from left to right – Dr. K S Nagabhushana, Director-Research, Prayoga; Dr. H S Nagaraja, Founder & Chief Mentor, Prayoga; Prof. T N Guru Row, Honorary Professor, IISc; Dr. H S Nagaraja welcoming Prof. S A Shivashankar, Visiting Professor, Centre for NanoScience and Engineering ; Dr. K S Nagabhushana with Dr. P R Krishnaswamy)

The projects are conceived and steered by senior researchers at Prayoga, serving as Principal Investigators, with support from their junior colleagues who act as Co Investigators and mentor the students. At the helm is Dr. K S Nagabhushana, Director Research, a PI himself, whose relentless pursuit of excellence drives his team to do and deliver their best.

The unique strength of the program was highlighted by Dr. Venkata Krishna Bayineni, Senior Researcher who is also coordinating the Anveshana program since inception, reiterated - this year as well - that India is only the 13th country in the world to initiate a program of this nature. While giving the complete picture of the program, he emphasised how the initiative offers students access to advanced scientific equipment, some of which is not provided until doctoral level. Dr. Karuna K Simha, Senior Researcher in Education brought to the parents and audience the Education Research perspective. She highlighted how the program not only nurtures scientific curiosity but also tracks students’ cognitive growth and personality development. The team mapped skills such as scientific reasoning and scientific process skills, using specialized tools to measure the impact of early research exposure.

The research projects span a broad spectrum - from exploratory, predictive, fundamental to developmental and applied. Students addressed everyday scientific concerns as well as advanced questions. Some projects tackled issues of immediate relevance such as the presence of microplastics in salt and the hazards associated with the probable carcinogen acrylamide in food. Others explored solutions with future applications, including harnessing protease-producing microbes, studying the impact of Indian herbs on gut health, conducting biomedical evaluations of plant roots, and investigating mineral–microbe interactions in milk fermentation. Collectively, these works point to innovations of immense potential for the food and medicine industries. Dr. K S Nagabhushana, Dr. Athavan, Dr. Venkata Krishna Bayineni, Dr. Subhdip Senapati and Dr. Biraj directed these projects as PIs with Ms. Padmapriya, Ms. Asha, Ms. Harshitha, Ms. Vagdevi,  Ms. Shruthi and Ms. Jayatha as Co-PIs, correspondingly.

The contemporary relevance of practicing sustainability is more pressing than ever, with some of the projects reflecting this urgency. Some of the projects explored bioethanol production, develop sustainable leather alternatives and employ green chemicals as catalysts in key industrial reactions. Each of these efforts underscores a commitment to environmental sustainability and renewable energy, offering solutions with both scientific depth and societal impact. These projects were steered by Dr. Venkata Krishna Bayineni, Dr. Subhdip Senapati, Dr. K S Nagabhushana along with Ms. Rakshitha, Mr. Parikshit and Mr. Arjun.

Oral Presentations (Clockwise: Science crossing language barriers – a tribal school student presents her work in Kannada; A student interacts with the scientists on the panel; A team showcases their work; Prof. Umesh Govindrao, Retd Prof, NIT-K poses a question)

The fabrication of flexible diodes, synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials for applications in biomolecule sensing and thermoelectric and piezoelectric devices were the focus of some studies in the advanced and functional materials thematic area. Research investigating electromagnetic shielding and chiral recognition in nanomaterials marks significant strides in materials innovation. Dr. Omprakash, Dr. Ramya Prabhu, Dr. Chetana along with research associates Ms. Swetha, Ms. Pooja, Mr. Adarsh, Mr. Nagarjuna and Ms. Padmini participated as mentors.

Alongside these, projects on lake rejuvenation and air quality analyses sought to provide solutions to pressing environmental challenges that demand immediate attention and action. Dr. Ajit Singh and Dr. Sai Harshini led these projects with Ms. Vennala contributing as a Co-PI.

Not just showcasing ingenuity of the young researchers, these projects also open doors for collaborations with industries across domains. By aligning scientific inquiry with real-world applications, avenues were created for academia and industry to work together to translate research.

All the students, apart from their project works and scientific advancements achieved in it, got to learn many aspects like lab safety, intellectual property rights, research integrity (ethics) areas that are rarely addressed within the realm of school science.

The learnings and insights from their research journey found expression in ways more than one - posters and oral presentations. The corridors during the poster presentations brimmed with energy, no less than an international conference buzzing with delegates. With confidence writ large on their faces, the students explained their work, fielded a volley of questions from the guests and graciously welcomed suggestions from panel scientists to refine or extend their studies. The oral presentations mirrored a thesis defense to the T, replete with a viva voce. Together, these showed more than just the scientific outcomes – it reflected the transformation of students into researchers, capable of standing before a 100+ audience, articulate their thoughts and respond with poise. Such confidence and openness to dialogue are life skills that go far beyond the realm of science – science by itself was only the cherry on the cake.

During the oral presentations, one of the teams, in addition to discussing their methods and results, went beyond to also share the challenges they faced along. This was endearing and significant, for a research journey is never complete without its signature crests and troughs. The science aside, this is particularly important, as such experiences carry profound life lessons – for, in a world where children are often consciously shielded from failures, encountering and overcoming minor setbacks eventually builds resilience, equipping them for life.

Poster presentations (Clockwise: Students presenting their work to parent audience; Dr. P R Krishnaswamy interacting with the students; Prof. Hemalatha Balaram keenly listening to the students; Prof. T N Guru Row engaging with young researchers)

The true impact of this initiative and its outcome was more to be seen and felt. The metamorphosis of the young researchers is definitely bound to reverberate through time. Ms. Saraswathi Kasturirangan, a representative of Deloitte, a sponsor of Anveshana, inviting the students to Deloitte Foundation for Innovation to help them do better at Deloitte was only proof of the potential these children carry. She observed that each project had relevance to everyday life. She noted that although it was concerning that most of our daily essentials come with hidden and unpleasant consequences, her spirits lifted knowing that the future rests in the capable hands of these budding scientists.

Anveshana continues to strive on the steadfast support of its foundation partner Zerodha, along with SBI Foundation, Deloitte, CIM Tools (Motherson Group), and a host of other generous donors and well-wishers who fuel Prayoga’s vision of empowering young researchers.

It was the collective prerogative of everyone in the audience to hear Dr. P R Krishnaswamy, a towering figure in science, deliver the chief guest address. Drawing from his vast experience, he spoke of science beyond science – charting the direction on the need for it to transcend isolation and move in synchrony with humanities towards the higher purpose of contributing to human welfare. While praising the young researchers for presenting their work with eloquence and enthusiasm, he also reminded them that today we stand at crossroads of science that stir a sense of fear. Citing the example of the atom bomb, he underscored the need for them to tread with care, for, the future of science and the world rests in their hands.

Raising concern over the direction in which science is headed, Dr. Krishnaswamy emphasised that science should be an enterprise whose applications serve humanity and not merely technology or commerce, as is often the case today. As a wake-up call to those practicing science, he urged them to become uncompromising spokesmen of issues of basic human need – healthcare, food, education - highlighting their responsibility beyond the bench.

India, he noted, is a country with potential to avert global scientific catastrophes through responsible practice of science. Ranked high among nations for engaging in non commercial science that can bring meaningful change, nurturing research that balances innovation with humanity is an imperative exercise. He expressed his confidence in Prayoga, highlighting that it was, within its orbit, well-positioned to initiate platforms for the practice of science in its purest form – bold and committed to the ideology of humaneness!

Students, science and society – these are the pivotal points in the ripple that this initiative intends to influence, where science and humanity strive together for mutual betterment.

Deepika S

01-09-2025