Media release

Puttur, Feb 17: St Philomena Aided High School, Puttur organized a two-day Tinker Fest 2019 on February 6 and 7.

Inaugurating the Fest, Captain Ganesh Karnik, former Member of Karnataka Legislative Council said, “Atal Tinkering Lab is an initiative by the Government of India under the Atal Innovation Mission. The objective of this ambitious programme is to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking and adaptive learning. It also aims at developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics acumen in young students”. Addressing a large group of participants he continued to say that curiosity would crop up in the young minds but we should see that only the best things endured with us. Recalling the contributions of Dr Abdul Kalam, he requested the participants to follow his footprints. He wished that the Fest would enhance the enthusiasm of the young creative minds and emphasized the importance of students keeping a constant touch with their alma mater. 

Presiding over the inaugural function, Fr Dr Antony Prakash Monterio called upon the students to develop and personalize scientific temper and thereby make a significant contribution towards nation building activities.

Addressing the student body, the Chief Guest of the function, Y. Shivaramaiah, DDPI, Mangaluru said, “Atal Tinkering Lab facility has been commissioned across the country by the Govt. of India in order to help the students in their thought process, understanding of Science & Technology and to help them make a career in Science. Atal Tinkering Lab has been started in 22 High Schools n Dakshina Kannada District. In Puttur Taluk the facility is available in 5 High Schools.

Students, making use of the facility should come up spectacularly in the field of Science and Scientific innovation and thereby contribute substantially for the good of the Society and the nation”.

Kiran Mayya Alumni of St. Philomena P. U. College, Scientist presently working in NASA, Dr. Sooryanarayana, Vice president PTA, Jagannivas Rao President Alumni Association and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Oswald Rodrigues, Head Master welcomed the gathering. Clement Pinto, Science teacher and convener of the Fest proposed vote of thanks. Rajeshekar B., senior teacher compered the programme.

During in course of the two day Fest, awareness programmes, interaction programmes, competitions in Exhibition, Know your ATL, Essay Writing and Quiz competitions were held.

Participating as the Chief Guest of the valedictory function on 7 February 2019, Radhakrishna Borker, President, Puttur Taluk Panchayat, opined that Tinker Fest was of great help to showcase talents and to pursue scientific discovery. He also gave away the prizes to the winners in the competitions.. Fr Sunil D’ Souza, Assistant Professor, PG Dept of Commerce, St Philomena College, Puttur presided. Benet Monteiro, Science Teacher proposed the vote of thanks.