Make Science International Competition 2026 – Report

The Make Science Competition (International) is an annual research program for Government School Students in classes 7 to 11 of Puducherry & Karaikal region, jointly organized by the Pondicherry Science Forum, the University of Paris, in collaboration with State Training Centre – DSE – Puducherry and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd Puducherry. It requires student teams (3-5 members) to conduct mini scientific research projects and document their findings.

Key Details & Process Target Audience: Exclusively for students in government schools.

Project Format: Teams conceptualize a mini scientific project in various areas of science (like rainwater management, composting, or crystal creation) and submit a proposal.

Selection & Execution: Around 30 proposals are typically submitted to the University of Paris, which selects the top 12. These 12 selected schools receive seed money to build and execute their models.

Final Submission: Students document their completed experiments via project reports and video recordings, which are sent to juries in France for international evaluation.

Prizes: Winning teams receive cash prizes (e.g., typically ₹18,000 for first place, ₹6,000 a special prize and three second prizes ₹6,000 each) and official recognition appreciation certificates.

The program runs every academic year, with annual results generally announced in June via video conferences.

Objectives and Theme of the Activity

Key Objectives of the Competition

Empowering Government Schools: Exclusively designed for local government school students (Classes 7 to 9 & 11) to bridge the gap between privileged and underprivileged educational opportunities.
Promoting Scientific Temper: Stimulating curiosity, creativity, and a thirst for truth by encouraging students to conduct small, practical research projects on local issues like water harvesting, waste management, and biodiversity.
Global Exposure: Allowing students to build self-confidence by showcasing their scientific findings and project reports to an international jury of experts in France via video conferencing.
Skill Development: Teaching students how to systematically document their experiments, collect data, and communicate scientific theories to a global audience.

Theme of the Activity

Based on the 12 project titles from the “Make Science International Competition 2026”, they fall under these 4 broad EVS/Science themes:

1. Environment & Sustainability

Experimental Study on Biodegradable Plastic Films from Banana, Potato, and Orange Wastes
Biogas Generation from Fish Pond Waste water: A Waste-to-Energy Approach

2. Water & Earth Sciences

Experimental Demonstration of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surface Behavior for Atmospheric Water Vapour Collection — A Proposed Model for Future Lunar Applications.

3. Agriculture & Food Systems

Comparison Study of Mono Cropping and Multi cropping using natural farm
Comparative Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer – Combinations on Poyyur Brinjal Yield and Growth Parameters
Smart Farming: Spinach Growth in Soil vs Nutrient Rich Water
IoT- Based Disease Detection and Mitigation System for Smart Agriculture
Comparative study of Hybrid seeds vs Traditional seeds under natural manures

4. Biodiversity & Ecology

Comparison of soil moisture and infiltration under Neltuma juliflora, Lantana camara, and native plants and their effect on native plant diversity
The Study of Insects Biodiversity
Observing & Documenting Honey Collecting by Honeybees using a Honey Box in our school environment

5. Science Communication & Pedagogy

Science in Motion: Exploring Concepts through Stop-Motion Animation

Most projects cluster under Agriculture & Ecology, showing a strong focus on local farming issues, waste-to-resource ideas, and biodiversity relevant to Puducherry/Karaikal.

Details of meetings, capacity building, guide teacher’s meetings

Make Science International Competition – Teacher Training & Timeline

The Make Science International Competition Guide Teachers Training Programme is organized annually by PSF in collaboration with STC for teachers of the Puducherry & Karaikal region. Held during July/August, the training equips 80–100 teachers each year to mentor students in international-level science projects.

Key Annual Timeline

July/Aug: Teacher training programme conducted by PSF & STC.

By Oct last week: Teachers guide students and submit project proposals to PSF.

November: PSF shortlists and forwards 30 science proposals to Paris University.

By 2nd week Jan: Paris University selects 12 final projects.

3rd week Jan – Mar last week: Selected students execute projects and prepare and submit reports + videos to PSF.

By 1st week May: 12 project reports/videos sent to Paris University as hard copy by post and soft copy by email through PSF.

2nd/3rd week June: Paris University juries evaluate and announce results through video conferencing.

2025-2026 Report

Teacher Training was organised by the PSF on 5.7.2026 at Puducherry and 8.7.2026 at Karaikal Region. Tmt.Sougouna Sougirdabaye – OSD – State Training Centre – Directorate of School Education Puducherry invited as chief guest at Puducherry and Chief Educational Officer Tmt.Vijayamohana participated as Chief Guest at Karaikal. PSF President,Secretary and Executive Members participated during the programme.

Totally 43 projects proposals received from the Teachers of Puducherry and Karaikal region. PSF arranged an evaluation committee to scrutinize the projects and 30 experimental projects selected by the committee. The 30 projects sent to the University of Paris on 28th November 2025.

12 Projects selected by the Paris University France and it was informed through email on 12th December 2025 and the same was informed to all the guide teachers on 13 th December 2025. Seed Money distributed for 12 Selected Project Proposals on by the OSD – STC, President & Secretary of PSF.

Guidelines for Guide Teachers informed through a separate wahtsapp group on 17 th December 2025. From 18 th December 2025 the students started to work on their experimental projects and they have completed and submitted their experimental based projects reports and videos and sent through email to our PSF on 15th of April 2026.All Project reports and videos consolidated by the PSF and it was sent to the Paris University through Email on 7 th of May 2026 through Email (Soft Copy) and Postal (hard copy).

Finally The Pondicherry Science Forum and Paris University Saclay France organised the Make Science International Competition 2026 Live Video Conferencing on 15.06.2026 Monday at the Third Floor Conference Hall of the Directorate of School Education – Puducherry in collaboration with State Training Centre DSE Puducherry and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited Puducherry.

The Pondicherry Science Forum (PSF), State Training Centre, University of Paris, and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., Puducherry jointly organised a videoconference and prize announcement ceremony for the “Make Science International Competition 2026” on Monday at the Directorate of School Education Conference Hall here.

The event, held from 10.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., was for Government school students from Puducherry and Karaikal regions. Of 30 project proposals submitted by schools to Paris University through PSF, 12 experimental projects were shortlisted for implementation. Between February and April, students executed the projects under teacher guidance and submitted reports and videos to the university.

Mr. Murugavel, Vice-President, Puducherry Science Movement, welcomed the gathering. Mr. Balasubramanian, Secretary, Puducherry Science Movement, delivered the presidential address. Mr. Aravindaraja, Coordinator of the initiative, outlined the objectives and explained the 12 research projects.

Felicitations were offered by Ms. Sivasankari, Lecturer, State Training Centre; Ms. Hemavathi, Vice-President, Puducherry Science Movement; Ms. Lakshmi, Senior Deputy General Manager, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., Puducherry; Mr. Ravichandran, Retired Lecturer; Mr. Sekar, Member, Science Movement; and Mr. Ravichandran, Secretary, Science Publications. Mr. Ramesh, Treasurer, Science Movement, proposed the vote of thanks.