SPPU Students Shine at West Zone Research Competition with Groundbreaking Innovations
Students from Savitribai Phule Phule Pune University have demonstrated exceptional research prowess by securing top awards at the prestigious Anveshan west zone research competition. The event, held at Sardar Patel University in Anand, Gujarat on January 20-21, showcased four remarkable projects that earned recognition across multiple categories.
Revolutionary Probiotic-Based Dressing System for Diabetic Wounds
Siddhi Joshi and Tanisha Kasbe, third-year B.Pharmacy students from AISSMS College of Pharmacy, clinched the first prize in the health sciences category with their innovative probiotic-based dressing system. This breakthrough addresses a critical healthcare challenge faced by diabetic patients, particularly those suffering from foot injuries that often lead to difficult healing processes and potential amputations.
The dressing system features a sophisticated dual-component design:
- A super-absorbent layer that efficiently manages wound exudate
- Polyurethane foam that facilitates capillary action for fluid transport
The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is directly applied to the wound area, with the option to incorporate it into the foam using syringe application. Based on their laboratory experiments, the students recommend changing the dressing twice daily for optimal results.
Multi-Purpose Mulching Machine Revolutionizes Farming Practices
Shivam Deokar and his mechanical engineering team from Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon, secured the third prize in agricultural sciences with their high-performance mulching paper-laying machine. Born from their personal farming backgrounds and understanding of agricultural challenges, this innovation addresses the labor-intensive nature of traditional farming methods.
The machine performs four essential farming tasks simultaneously:
- Bed preparation for optimal crop growth
- Drip pipe laying for efficient irrigation
- Material feeding for fertilizer application
- Mulching paper bed laying for soil protection
Shivam explained the economic benefits: "Traditional manual methods cost farmers approximately Rs 4,500 per acre and require two to three days of labor. Our machine reduces this to just Rs 1,200-1,500 including diesel costs, completing the work in three to four hours." The team has already secured a design patent and applied for a utility patent, demonstrating the commercial viability of their invention.
Predictive Analysis for Human Vision Using Biopotential Signals
Vidhi Baldota and Anurag Mehta, third-year BSc Physics students from Nowrosjee Wadia College, earned the second prize in basic sciences for their project on predictive analysis of human vision using biopotential signals. Their three-year research journey began with an interest in nasal signals but evolved into a meaningful contribution to visual health.
Vidhi shared their motivation: "Observing the challenges faced by visually impaired students during examinations inspired us to explore preventive measures for vision-related issues. Our system analyzes eye signals to assess visual quality, potentially enabling early detection of preventable conditions."
While their current dataset limits disease prediction capabilities, the students envision future applications where sufficient data could enable detection of conditions like Parkinson's disease through eye signal analysis.
AI-Powered Legal Education Platform
Rudra Hatte, Srujan Deshmankar, and their team from Modern College of Engineering's AI and Data Sciences program won second prize in social sciences, humanities, commerce, business management & law for their innovative platform, My Law Book. This digital solution bridges the gap between legal education and practical application.
The platform offers two primary features:
- Moot court simulations where students and lawyers can practice case arguments against AI-powered opponents
- Animated educational videos that simplify constitutional concepts for general audiences
Rudra elaborated: "We've created realistic courtroom scenarios using data from various law colleges, complete with AI lawyers for practice sessions and AI judges for verdict delivery. We're currently expanding our dataset to include Supreme Court orders for enhanced realism."
About Anveshan Research Competition
Anveshan, an initiative by the Association of Indian Universities, aims to identify and nurture research aptitude among higher education students. The competition provides a platform for young innovators to showcase their problem-solving capabilities and contribute to societal development. Selected projects from the west zone competition will advance to the national round, with dates to be announced.
The success of SPPU students at this competition highlights the university's commitment to fostering innovation and research excellence. These projects demonstrate how academic learning can translate into practical solutions addressing real-world challenges in healthcare, agriculture, scientific research, and legal education.
