Science Stars: Young innovators showcase plant experiment

Recently, students from Apeejay School, Kharghar showcased their scientific knowledge at Science Utsav 2025, an event organized by the Navi Mumbai Science Foundation and Pillai College of Engineering at Shree Gujarat Samaj, Sector 15, Vashi. The exhibition served as a platform for students to present their innovative projects and engage in interactive science-based activities. 

The school sent two teams to participate — one from Class VI and another from Class IX. Among them, Swarnim Istha and Vedant Singh (Class VI-A) captivated the audience with their practical demonstration of phototropism and geotropism in plants.

Inspired by their curiosity about plant growth, they meticulously designed three experimental setups to illustrate how plants respond to light and gravity.

Vedant took charge of the writing and chart preparation, while Swarnim focused on germinating the seeds and setting up the experiment.

Sharing his experience, Swarnim said that their project for Science Utsav 2025 on geotropism and phototropism was something that attracted him since he was fascinated by plants. “When our teacher invited students to take part in the exhibition, we (my friend Vedant and I) decided to look for an interesting experiment in our textbook. We found the phototropism and geotropism experiment particularly exciting and chose it,” he said and added that they created three setups showing how plants respond to light and gravity. 

For the first setup, they planted moong dal seeds in cotton-filled bowls and kept them moist every day. Within four to five days, the seeds germinated. For the second and third setups, they tied the seeds to a scale wrapped in tissue paper, which was partially submerged in water. Through this experiment, they learnt that everything takes time, and watching the plants grow was truly fascinating. One of the key things discovered was that shoots aren’t green initially because they do not yet have chlorophyll, and roots emerge first as part of the plant’s natural growth process. 

“Our teacher played a crucial role in guiding us, as initially, we had a different idea about how the experiment should be conducted. She helped us structure our setups properly, which gave us a clear understanding of how to present our findings. Working with Vedant was easy because we divided the tasks equally, making the entire process smooth and enjoyable. Overall, this experience not only deepened my understanding of plant growth but also helped me develop skills in scientific observation and presentation,” the Class VI student stated.

Vedant said that initially, he didn’t fully understand the concept of phototropism and geotropism in plants. “I thought that by conducting it myself, I would gain a clearer understanding. Together, we (Swarnim and I) approached our teacher for guidance. She instructed us to first complete the writing work before starting the practical experiment. I focused on the writing and chart preparation, while Swarnim took charge of growing the plants,” the 12-year-old shared.

The entire experience, Vedant said, at the Science Utsav 2025 was incredible. “Apart from presenting our project, we also got to see many other fascinating exhibits. One of the highlights was the Nitrogen Show, where we saw how nitrogen could be converted from a gaseous form into a liquid state — something I had never seen before,” Vedant shared.

“Through this project, I learnt about the hormone auxin. The experience deepened my interest in science, and I would love to participate in more such exhibitions. I had taken part in a similar project before, where we studied different types of taste buds with another student,” he stated and added that his parents supported him by helping with the chart paper and memo preparation.

“My teacher played a crucial role in guiding us on how to grow the plants and what materials were required. She also helped us during the exhibition, instructing us on where to place our charts and plants,” Vedant said in conclusion.