Path-breaking scientists and technocrats are not born, they are made… on a treadmill of constant, hard learning, and intense research despite setbacks. To nurture future innovators, Young Scientists Forum 2025 (YSF) extended a platform to around 340 students from 42 schools in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mumbai to display their creative ingenuity through scientific models, prototypes and concept ideas at their project demo stalls at a one-day exhibition in Pollachi, TN.
Hosted jointly by RC Pollachi, RID 3203, and Arcomm Tech Solutions, a knowledge-based NGO that provides hands-on tech skills to children, the YSF was held at the Kovai Vidyashram school in Coimbatore. “For the first time, we had partnered with Arcomm which has been conducting the science expo for school students across TN over the last three years. Now with Rotary joining hands, both the scale and reach of YSF have grown tremendously, making an impact among the schools in the region,” said V Satish Chandran, club president.
Five scientists were invited by Arcomm for the YSF. The elite members interacted and gave valuable suggestions to the participants who gained confidence to further pursue their research work. “They also got a peek into the real-world applications of new tech concepts during their tête-à-tête with the scientists,” he said.
Scientific curiosity
Recalling the genesis of Project YSF, club secretary Sreekanth Venkat said, “I visited the Arcomm exhibition in 2024, and was amazed by the kind of impact they had among school students in promoting science, technology, and problem-solving concepts for real life applications. We discussed at the club’s board meeting about partnering with this entity in organising the annual science fair for schools, and thus was born our first joint YSF in Nov 2025.”
It is a competitive event in which students are classified based on their grades (Class 5–12), and the basic idea is to infuse scientific curiosity and an innovative mindset among them , said Venkat. “The YSF made the participants think beyond classrooms and textbook pedagogy, and gave wings to their imagination that focused on emerging technologies like the AI-based models, IoT (internet of things) applications like smart homes, digital office, etc. They were exposed to the opportunities that science can throw open to solve emerging problems and social issues,” he explained.
“YSF opened up a wonderful learning curve for me. After presenting my demo model, I interacted with experts. I am privileged to get exposed to the real-world conditions in the scientific community,” said Mubhassir (Class 9) from Arokiamatha HS School, Pollachi. Heaping praise on Rotary and Arcomm, Prakash, father of Vanishree (Class 8) from the Vijayamatha Convent HS School in Chittoor, Kerala, thanked the organisers for a “motivational event that guided the students to think creatively, ask questions and develop a scientific mindset.”
In another initiative, the club organised Project Heal that screened 130 rural women for breast and cervical cancer at two detection camps held at Pollachi, with the support of major hospitals. “We got the mammography van from RC Mettupalayam to examine 60 women for breast cancer in the camp held with the support of the Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital; and followed it up with another camp in which 70 women were screened for both breast and cervical cancer (through Pap smear test),” said Venkat. The Ganga Medical Centre and Hospitals supported the second camp.
Under Operation Clean, the Rotarians and Rotaractors collected plastic litter and other garbage, discarded by tourists, across the Valparai-Aliyar Forest Range, a biodiversity hotspot, on Sundays. “We collected around 10 tonnes of debris which was posing a grave hazard to the wildlife and environment,” he said. A new classroom is under construction at the Government Middle School, Vazhaikombu Nagoor (a tribal hamlet), with CSR funding (₹37.5 lakh) from IHL, Hyderabad. DG B Dhanasekar laid the foundation stone for the project in December. “On the same day, we distributed new clothes and school uniforms worth ₹15,000 to 80 tribal children of the school,” said Chandran.
As part of a mega community outreach, the club presented Nation Builder Awards to 25 frontline workers such as traffic inspectors, nurses, special educators, social workers, government drivers, environmental activists, and cultural artists. At a poultry workshop held under RYLA banner titled Protein for the Nation, Prosperity for Youth, held at the STC College, 240 students were exposed to career opportunities in the livestock sector, farm management, nutrition, veterinary service and supply-chain logistics. Held with the support of Poultry Farmers Regulatory Committee, the event also honoured a few poultry entrepreneurs for boosting the local economy and giving jobs to the local youth.
In order to create a green legacy, a two-phase mega planting drive was conducted at Karappadi village, near Pollachi. “Around 1,000 palm seeds were planted for long-term green cover and soil conservation, followed by planting 600 native species which will benefit the villagers,” said Chandran. Thanks to the participation of villagers and youth volunteers, along with Rotarians, “we will transform the hamlet into a green paradise, leaving behind a strong ecological footprint.”
In an attempt to enter the India Book of Records, a Rotary Relay Run was organised jointly with Rotaractors to create awareness against drug abuse. Around 250 participants ran a 120km course from Pollachi to Erode, “through villages and towns instilling a strong message of ‘Say No to Drugs’ among the people,” he said. Pollachi Municipality chairperson N Shyamala flagged off the relay marathon, along with Chandran, in the presence of RID 3203 Traffic Awareness coordinator Sivanantha Vadivel, Rotaract chair Rajalakshmi and DRR Selvavignesh. An oral hygiene camp screened 55 people at Karappadi village with the support of the Indian Dental Association, local chapter.
As part of its DEI outreach, 205 differently-abled children from 10 special schools performed a synchronised yoga dance.
As part of its DEI outreach, 205 differently-abled children from 10 special schools performed a synchronised yoga dance in a joint programme with Newbridge Centre at the Bharathiar University. The special dance for 10 minutes entered into the Virtue Book of World Records.
Global grant project
Now the spotlight is on their ongoing global grant project ($65,000) titled Mission Sparkle which is building 10 gender-segregated toilet blocks at 10 government primary and middle schools at the Anaimalai Education Block, a tribal habitat and reserve forest area on the foothills of the Western Ghats. RC Belmont, RID 9423, Australia, is the global partner.
Once completed, the toilet blocks will benefit 500 students at these 10 schools, which once had enrolled over 1,000 students; “but absenteeism and dropouts because of pathetic sanitary condition, along with deplorable hygiene, led to the student number shrinking drastically over the last few years,” said Venkat. “The school faculty is optimistic that once the Rotary toilets are constructed, there will be a big jump in the new admissions.” This is the second GG project of the club, “the first one was setting up an electric crematorium, way back in 1995, at ₹2.5 crore. We are still maintaining the facility.”
“We are giving our time and hearts to serve remote villages where Rotary’s need is felt the most,” smiles Chandran. With 89 members, including an honorary Rotarian, the 41-year-old club has sponsored five Rotaract and two Interact clubs. Textile baron and philanthropist, Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, chairman, Kumaraguru Group of educational institutes, was the charter president of RC Pollachi.