On 30th September, the Eco-club leaders from Grade 9B represented our school at the prestigious SRISHTI 4.0 Water Conservation, 2026 inter-school Science exhibition, held at SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Nerul, captivating visitors and judges alike with an inspiring, hands-on demonstration on Aquaponics. The participants from the school were Mst. Shivansh Shukla, Mst. Veer Gaikawad, Ms. Advika Upadhyay. They were mentored and guided by Ms. Deepa Banerjee.
Around 58 schools, junior colleges from the regions of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Raigad had participated in the exhibition. The Chief Guest for the Awareness Session was Mr. Subhajit Mukherjee, Founder of Har Ghar Jal Sanchay Abhiyan and Mission Green India. The judges were Dr. Daya Tilwe (an academician and researcher who served as the Head of the Department of Botany at the ICLES Motilal Jhunjhunwala College, in Vashi, Navi Mumbai) and Ms. Rasika Shastri (Manager at SFC Environmental Technologies Pvt. Ltd).
Innovating for a Greener Tomorrow
Aquaponics is a closed-loop, soil-less farming method that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water that is soil-free farming). By harnessing natural biological cycles, beneficial bacteria convert fish waste into nutrient-rich food for plants, while the plants naturally filter and purify the water before it flows back to the fish tank.
Our Grade 9 team designed and presented a fully functional working model, demonstrating how this eco-friendly system uses up to 90% less water than traditional soil farming while producing both fresh produce and organic protein.
Exhibition Highlights
- Working Closed-Loop System: Visitors observed how water is continuously drawn through a biofilter, where beneficial bacteria break down waste into usable nutrients, before being recirculated back into the system by a mini water pump, maintaining a self-sustaining cycle. Plastic fish were used within the model to visually represent aquatic organisms and simulate a realistic pond/aquarium ecosystem, allowing visitors to
- understand how biological filtration and nutrient cycling support aquatic life in a continuously circulating water system.
- Interactive Presentations: Students explained complex biological concepts—including the nitrogen cycle, pH balance, and microbial activity—with impressive clarity and confidence.
- Real-World Impact: The presentation tackled modern urban farming challenges, emphasizing land scarcity, water conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Honorable mentions:
Mst. Parijat Dawn and Mst. Gregory Fernandes of grade IX B also contributed to the designing and development of the project. Ms. Annamani also gave her valuable help and expertise towards building the model.
Looking Ahead
The project earned praise from the judging panel for its scientific rigors, creative design, and environmental relevance. Congratulations to our Grade 9 students for their outstanding performance and for carrying the torch of sustainable innovation!
