Biomimicry – learning from nature!

April 22, 2026May 10, 2026Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bangalore: BMS Institute of Technology and Management (BMSIT) organised a Biomimicry event on 22 April 2026. GREEN CIRCLE and the BMS eco club, OIKOS, jointly organised the event to mark World Earth Day. Biomimicry is the practice of learning from nature and using those ideas to solve human problems. The eco club initiative engaged 53 students across 10 teams, each presenting live working models based on biomimicry principles. The projects focused on real-world applications such as water conservation, climate-responsive design, disaster resilience, and sustainable infrastructure. Key innovations included termite mound-inspired passive cooling systems, honeycomb-structured columns, lotus leaf-inspired self-cleaning surfaces, penguin body-based insulation, spider web-inspired earthquake-resistant structures, etc. The models were evaluated by a panel of three juries, including one industry expert, L. R. Phanindra, GE Healthcare, to ensure a balanced assessment of technical feasibility, innovation, and societal relevance. Projects were also mapped to relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising their contribution to areas such as clean water, sustainable cities, and climate action. Says Prof Rajesh, ‘the event highlighted the potential of nature-inspired solutions in addressing societal needs and stands as a replicable model supporting the objectives of the Bharat Environment Programme’. The best models were awarded in the felicitation ceremony on the same day. First prize was bagged by Manisha Ramisetty’s team, while second and third places were secured by Anagh Manivarnan’s team and Darshan Gowda’s team, respectively. Dr V. Selvarajan, Green Circle, made a presentation on an eco STP model at People’s Trust based on the cow’s four-chamber stomach designed on the biomimicry principle. Speaking on the occasion, Principal of BMS IT & M, Dr Sanjay H. A. lauded the efforts of the eco club and encouraged them to do some extracurricular activity on every Saturday. Harish Uthaiah, People’s Trust and Kumar Kalyandurg, Green Circle, were present. Jury members of the Drawing competition, Dr V Selvarajan, Vasantha Kumar, Green Circle, Sreelakshmi B. K., Lumen Technologies and L. R. Phanindra, GE Healthcare, were honoured on the occasion. Rakshitha V, Nedium Chandana, Bhoomika S B, and Machireddy Dhanitha were also awarded the prizes for winning the drawing competition.

Can’t speak or hear, gave voice for Earth

April 22, 2026May 10, 2026Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bengaluru, April 22: Oceanik Education Society observed World Earth Day with an environmental awareness programme at its campus, drawing participation from 167 students and 39 staff members. Dr. V. Selvarajan, Chairman of Green Circle Bangalore, attended as Chief Guest, alongside Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee of People’s Trust and Kumar Kalyandurg, Secretary, Green Circle, as Guests of Honour. The Institution encourages inclusive education where differently abled children go hand in hand with other students who foster fraternity and friendship. The event featured inter-college competitions in drawing, painting, poster-making, and essay writing, with prizes awarded to winners. A parallel seedball activity led to the preparation of around 1,050 seed balls for afforestation efforts. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Selvarajan highlighted the urgency of climate action, pointing to rising temperatures, food wastage, and increasing waste generation. He urged students to adopt sustainable practices and follow the principle “Think Globally, Act Locally.” The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, leaving students inspired to contribute towards environmental conservation. Principal Prof. Shobha K. M. welcomed all. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Ravi. Dr. N.M. Poovaiah, Founder of the Institution, felicitated all.

Green ideas during summer camp

April 14, 2026May 10, 2026Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bangalore: Sai Shankar Vidhya Shala, a rural school at People’s Trust campus in Sriramanahalli, Yelahanka, Bangalore, organised a summer camp for the children from villages. About 30 children participated in the camp. Children were taught Yoga, meditation, dance, and robotics, as well as eco-friendly crafts like paper bag making, Food chain game, Biodiversity Appreciation Album making, and Poster making on what children can do to save the environment. The camp was inaugurated on 14.4.26 by V Selvarajan. Ganga Bhavani, Head Mistress, Sai Shankar Vidhya Shala welcomed the gathering. Hairsh Uthaiah, Managing Trustee of People’s Trust, delivered the keynote address and thanked everyone for joining. Some fun activities and painting programs were also part of the program. Kumar Kalyandurg of Green Circle says that such summer camps engage the children usefully during the holidays. Meenakshi Bose, an artist, guided the students to make paper bags. She also displayed her acrylic paintings during the camp. Shyna and Chalapathi of People’s Trust trained the students in Yoga and meditation. Teachers Rajini, Rathnamma, Vishavani, Pavithra, Sunitha and Venkatesh volunteered to manage the camp. School Administrator Neetha Uthaiah supervised the camp events.

10 small climate action ideas!

April 5, 2026April 5, 2026Dr V Selvarajan Leave a comment

Bangalore: On 1st April 2026, a Community Organisation Programme focusing on Climate Action Initiatives was conducted by Rohan Benoy and Roshan K. Thomas, students from Kristu Jayanti College. The event was organised for 40 students from classes 6 and 7 of the Total Residential Education Program (TREP) at Sri Sathya Sai Shankar Vidyanikethanam at People’s Trust, Sriramanahalli, Rajanukunte, Bangalore. The objective of the programme was to raise awareness among young students about the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable living, especially in light of the pressing global challenge of climate change. The speaker on the occasion, Dr V. Selvarajan, Chairman, Green Circle, told the children that climate action is possible at their level if they adopt certain environment-friendly simple actions. He gave a list of 10 points and advised the students to practice the same. The other speakers included Harish Uthaiah, Managing Trustee of People’s Trust and Kumar Kalyandurg of Green Circle. Topics covered included waste reduction, resource conservation, and the adoption of eco-friendly habits in daily life. The students came away with the understanding that small actions can lead to significant impacts. They learned practical methods to tackle environmental challenges, such as minimising plastic use, planting trees, saving water, and embracing sustainable alternatives in their routines. The organizer of the program Rohan, said that this program was aimed at enhancing students’ understanding of climate issues and inspiring them to engage in environmental conservation. It fostered a sense of responsibility for a sustainable future. Roshan adds, ‘After listening to the talk, I feel that children can contribute a lot in the form of simple climate action initiatives.’