The B.Sc; biotechnology students from Dr. Lankapalli Bullayya College, who got selected for a 10-day U.S. fellowship tour.
| Photo Credit: V. Raju
Four city-based students got selected for a 10-day US fellowship tour for restoring the city’s coastal ecosystem with seagrass that is available on the Odisha coast.
They are final-year B.Sc., (Biotechnology, Microbiology & Chemistry) students of Dr. Lankapalli Bullaya College, Visakhapatnam, and their environmental-friendly project is ‘Pioneering Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Restoring Seagrass Meadows in Visakhapatnam Coast’, in a Climate Tank Accelerator competition meant for five south Asian countries.
The students are T. Harshitha, A. Tejaambik, M. Ashwini and J. Karthikeya Narayana. Faculty member B. Madhavi among others are their guide.
Started working on the project in April 2024, their journey has gone through different tasks set in the competition, a collaborative initiative between the Student Society for Climate Change Awareness, and Seeds of Peace USA.
During a formal interaction with The Hindu here on Friday with the students and their guide, the students’ lead T. Harshitha said, “We were overjoyed to represent India in this international platform. Winning the competition for India and earning a 10-day fellowship in the USA with a reward money of $1,000 is a moment of immense pride and gratitude for our team. We thank every stakeholder for this achievement.”
Briefing the project, students narrated that seagrasses, often called “the lungs of the ocean,” play a vital role in combating climate change by absorbing more carbon dioxide than terrestrial plants. They stabilise coastal sediments, support marine life, and serve as vital blue carbon ecosystems.
“Here, we recognised seagrass’ importance and embarked on the project to restore the ecosystems along the Visakhapatnam coast. The journey began with the selection of two seagrass species, namely Halophila Ovalis and Halodule Pinifolia, from Chilika Lagoon in Odisha. These species were transported to Visakhapatnam for re-plantation at Mangamaripeta beach, between Vizag and Bheemili,” the students said.
“Beyond restoration, we focussed on raising awareness and involving diverse groups—schools, colleges, divers, and local communities—to highlight the significance of seagrass ecosystems,” they added.
“One of our most impactful initiatives was an art exhibition, where creativity met science to bring attention to the importance of seagrass meadows. These events not only educated but also inspired action among the public, creating a ripple effect of awareness,” said Ms. Ashwini.
“We had the opportunity to present our findings at the National Conference on Recent Advances in Biological Sciences at Hyderabad too as part of the journey,” added another student Tejaambik.
“Throughout this journey, we faced challenges such as unpredictable weather, which delayed our re-plantation timeline, and attending our academic activities including examinations. Our determination never wavered, and every milestone was a step closer to our goal. Finally, our project got selected and won the US fellowship tour,” said Mr. Karthikeya Narayana.
On the other hand, the guide Ms. Madhavi said, “The entire project cost was supported by the U.S. team and well supported by the college correspondent G. Madhu Kumar and Principal G.S.K. Chakravarty. The college management is trying to bring the students’ achievement to the notice of Prime Minister’s Mann-Ki-Baat programme as well.”
Published – December 21, 2024 03:06 am IST
