Kerala Science Congress concludes with students presenting virtual teacher and drug detection innovations

Kochi: The 38th Kerala Science Congress concluded in Kochi on Monday after four days of deliberations, exhibitions and interactive programmes that brought together scientists, researchers, students and the public.The event also featured technical sessions across multiple disciplines and a Sci-Sol competition presenting practical scientific solutions to local issues. Many innovative and ‘out of the box' solutions were shown. One such solution that caught a lot of attention was a group of students bringing in a ‘virtual teacher' to aid them in their studies. A Agney, P C Haseef Mohammed, A Niranjan and K Archith Prakash, 10th standard students from PMHS Kakkoor in Malappuram, developed this ‘AI' teacher dressed in a sari. Their concept was that even if a teacher was absent, their learning would not be disrupted. A real teacher can control the AI Edu Bot operating system from anywhere in the world. The Edu Connect mobile app, which allows for admin management and activity tracking, is used by the teacher. This system, operating with a custom Edu Bot OS, integrates modern web technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery and Bootstrap. The system includes six apps offering video calls, file sharing, real-time school updates, chat and a voice assistant that instantly answers students' questions. Notes can be uploaded to the virtual AI teacher's screen using the Edu Connect app. When connected to a projector, notes can be displayed on a digital whiteboard. Writing on the mobile app from home will also appear on the digital whiteboard. The AI teacher can take attendance and directly interact with students. Attendance is recorded by scanning the students' school ID cards, which are equipped with radio frequency identification. It also provides immediate answers to questions. Parents can stay updated with school news and monitor their child's progress. "We can guarantee that Edu Bot AI will make learning more engaging," was the young innovators' stance when asked if it could keep them engaged for long. Other inventions include a sensor capable of detecting synthetic drugs such as MDMA when mixed with beverages by a team from Cochin University and a non-invasive screening system that analyses pupil response using a smartphone camera to assess drug consumption developed by Rajagiri Engineering College students.