Life Below Water

June 2022

Kudos to our SDG Ambassador of the month- Ms. Poonam Bhumbee

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” - – Ryunosuke Akutagawa

Initiatives Taken

• Tackling Marine Pollution
• Reviving the degraded- Protecting and restoring Ecosystems
• Aspire to Inspire- Reduce Ocean acidification
• Be an Ocean Guardian
• Scientific Solutions to Combat Marine Pollution

Description

Initiative 1- Tackling Marine Pollution

Activity 1 – PowerPoint Presentation- Following the 3R’s : Students of Class V created an alluring Power point focussing on 3R’s and sensitising students on reducing, reusing and recycling of products on land which finally ends up in marine habitats causing damage to the aquatic life.

Activity 2 – Reusing plastic, Reducing waste reaching the oceans and Recycling waste- Knowledge Sharing : Boscons promoted the reuse and recycling of ‘plastic’- one of the biggest threats to aquatic ecosystems. They demonstrated various ways of utilizing plastic and reducing its use thereby preventing its flow to the water bodies. Students also created poster using Tuxpaint to sensitise people to replace plastic with environment friendly options and participated in Green Good Deeds too. Students took up the role of responsible citizens by enacting their roles to sensitise other students. To emphasise the importance of segregation of waste and its proper disposal, composting activity was performed by Boscon’s. They practiced the same in their houses and sensitized their family members about the current need to reduce pollutants reaching the oceans which mainly include sewage from houses. Bosco Public School organised an online webinar on ‘E-Waste Management’ on November 27, 2021, for classes VI-VIII. The eminent resource person for the session, Dr. Payal Nandurkar, Scientist at the Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, USA sensitised the Boscon’s about the ways to erase electronic waste by Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. The young minds learnt about the hazards of electronic waste, the importance of recycling and the benefits of being good stewards of the environment. Bosco Public School, Paschim Vihar organised an online informative and interactive session on plants and gardening - 'Baghban - Go the Green Way’ on June 19, 2021. The resource person Dr. Pramod, ex – Vice Principal, Shivaji College, New Delhi, enlightened the attendees about composting – nature’s way of recycling. He shared easy methods to create compost pile and made everyone understand, how making compost contributes to reducing waste.

Activity 3 – Campaign- Solutions to Pollution : Students of Class IX undertook a campaign to sensitise people by designing attractive and informative Pamphlets on Ways to reduce single use plastic, Ways to reduce waste generation and Ways to reuse non- biodegradable items using their artistic and ICT skills to create awareness amongst masses. Boscons also pledged to reduce the use of Single Use Plastic. Students of Class X made 3-D models to showcase the ways to reduce waste reaching the oceans through modified drainage system.

Activity 4 – Knowledge Sharing- Ocean Factuals : Students of Class VI enthusiastically designed attractive and informative Ocean Factuals on Ocean Pollution to create awareness amongst masses on different unknown facts on oceans.

Initiative 2- Reviving the degraded- Protecting and restoring Ecosystems

Activity I – Model Making : Students of Class X created Models on Organic Farming and Organoponics which helps to reduce marine pollution by reducing the usage of chemical fertilisers and thereby help in protecting and restoring marine ecosystems.

Activity 2 – Lend A Hand : To ensure proper water management, students practiced vertical green corners and terracotta pot irrigation system in school. Students showcased the roles to be played by every citizen in everyday life like switching off light when not in use, using energy efficient bulbs, bicycling short distances, carpooling, using jute bags for shopping, etc. These activities portray traits of a responsible individual as these small steps ensures long term benefits to the world.

Activity III – Combat Climate Change- Climate Summit: An Inter-house competition was organised, where each house was allotted a Country (Sweden, Japan, India and France). They explained the actions taken by each house to resolve climate change. The students presented their ideas with the help of a PowerPoint presentation.

Activity 3 – Knowledge Sharing : Students designed eye catching and motivating cartoons showcasing the impacts and reasons to save thy earth of pollution. In pursuit of an initiative of Save Soil by Conscious Planet organization and Sadhguru, Bosco Public School was a proud host of the workshop conducted by Ms. Sajal Bhardwaj, which was held on March 30, 2022. The workshop enlightened the audience about the need to save soil and to amplify the message of saving the soil to the students and helping them to be conscious of the severity of food crisis in the coming years all over the world making them the voice for change soon thereby saving lives of all individuals on earth. To learn about the diverse water related ecosystems, tiny tots of Classes I and II, participated in online clay modelling activity depicting underwater scenes. They were delighted to learn about varied underwater species and their role in life.

Activity 4 – Awareness through Google Form : A google form was floated to the students to create awareness about protecting and restoring ecosystems.

Initiative 3- Aspire to Inspire- Reducing Ocean Acidification

Activity I– Plantation Drive: Students at Bosco Public School, Paschim Vihar participated with great zeal and enthusiasm in the TREE PLANTATION DRIVE that was organised in association with Gau Sewa Samiti on April 30,2022 (Saturday). Students of grades V to X classes planted saplings in Bhera Enclave, vicinity of the school to raise awareness and consciousness about environment among the masses. This initiative also enwrapped SDG Goal 14 – Life Below Water and made the students imbibe the fact that how trees play a major role in reducing carbon footprint.

Activity 2 – Oceo- toon and Poster Designing : Students of Class VII designed attractive and informative Cartoon and Poster showcasing ways to reduce burning of fossil fuels/ Alternatives to fossil fuels which reduce carbon footprint, to create awareness amongst the masses on alternate forms of energy which can be used to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

Activity 3 – Knowledge Sharing : Students of Class IX designed pamphlets showcasing ways to reduce energy consumption to create awareness amongst the masses on ways to reduce our energy consumption, thereby reducing our carbon footprint. The students used their ICT skills and designed attractive, informative and inspiring pamphlets. Workshop on Solar energy was taken up by Er. Srinivas, founder, and President of Scientific Students on Earth Day enlightening young Boscons about the need and use of renewable sources of energy showcasing various gadgets working on solar energy thereby inspiring them to create one. Students presented an insightful assembly on Earth Day. The Nukkad Natak, self- composed poem and thoughtful compering left the audience spell bound. The students gave an epiphanic message to plant more trees, to control pollution, save mother earth and make it a better place to live in.

Activity 4 – Campaign to reduce carbon footprint : Students showcased the ways to reduce carbon footprint through Green Good deeds, daily acts like using jute bags for shopping, planting more and on regular basis observing the planted plants to preserve them. For the same, Bosco Public School’s Green Brigade pioneered an herbal garden set up in the school premises under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Parmod Sagar on 9th May 2022. He laid emphasis on plant propagation over seed germination and reiterated several advantages of propagating plants using cuttings which can avoid the difficulties faced when using seeds. He also threw light on different types of Agriculture without using soil like Hydroponics and Aeroponics wherein nutrients are supplied in the form of liquid and spray, respectively. He especially stressed upon the importance of traditional Indian herbs that are native to our country and have, as of late, become scarce due to westernization. A physical cum virtual tour of the Herbal Garden was undertaken by Class VIII- C on May 31, 2021, wherein Bosco’s Green Brigade were updated about their plantation's propagations.

Initiative 4 - Be an Ocean Guardian

Activity 1 – Save Yamuna Drive : Boscons along with their teachers volunteered in Shuchi Yamuna, The Clean Yamuna Campaign. The students were made aware about the importance of river Yamuna and their role in making it clean. It gave a hands-on experience to the students giving a sense of responsibility to save the environment for their sustenance.

Activity 2 – Caring to Conserve- Wetlands –Providing Habitat and Campaign : Awareness programme was organized to stimulate children about the importance of wetlands, rivers and the current need to protect them. Students of Class XI and XII also created informative models on Aquaponics/ Wetlands (Ramsar sites) which helps in protecting and restoring marine ecosystems. A campaign was taken up by students of Class VIII who designed informative Collage showcasing the reason, needs and ways of preventing sea mining for construction to create awareness amongst the masses on how sea mining is a major cause of habitat loss of species in oceans. Bosco Public school organised an Online Workshop on World Ocean Day on June 8, 2022, for Classes 6-12, wrapped with SDG- 14 (Sustainable development goal) Life under water under the able guidance of Dr. Ravi Mishra, Scientist from National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa. Dr. He briefed the students about the ocean structure, associated marine life including the Coral reefs and how human activities including garbage produced at source, etc, enters the worlds waterways causing pollution of plastic debris, chemical runoff and more impacting the aquatic habitats thereby disturbing the complete ecosystem. He reiterated that as the Ocean is the origin and engine of all life on this planet, we all must be careful about its health which is the foremost responsibility of all citizens. Boscons also pledged on Saving Oceans and spreading the word.

Initiative 5 - Scientific solutions to combat marine pollution

Activity Young Boscons did scientific research and prepared PPTs and videos to find out solutions to combat marine pollution. They also created informative 3D models which helps in protecting and restoring marine ecosystems suggesting ways to reduce marine pollution.