School: Ryan International School Sanpada
    Sanpada, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

3 students, ages 13 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 11, 2007. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2007

Classes and Teachers: Miss Madhavi Sarang / Malhar, Abhishek, Ayush

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.ryansanpada.com

1. Description of Our Team

Some men see and ask why most of the population of this world is suffering with various types of diseases. We asked ourselves the cause of its spread? Why not prevent it? Why not be cautious? Why not any ready arms to fight it? Thus we joined hands together to create a peaceful modern world. Interest, constructive criticism, constant advice from our teachers and coach and their consistent involvement helped this project see the light of day..

Malhar (13 yrs), the perfectionist, continuously analyses to aim higher and tries to achieve the goals. He was responsible for developing the web pages and research work.

Abhishek (13 yrs), intrepid, artist and a biologist, takes an unconventional yet pragmatic approach towards all he does. He was responsible for surveys and data analysis.

Ayush (13 yrs), a genius in astrology, believes that life is not a bed of roses and failure is the step to success. He was responsible for preparing the presentations and research work.

Miss Madhavi Sarang, an educationist, believes in hard work, learning from mistakes and is a firm believer of “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

We planned and divided our work of developing concepts, conducting research, involving community, and designing the web site, in a manner to ensure optimum learning experiences.

2. Summary of Our Project

ATTACKED! This word is heard more frequently in recent times than in the past. This word refers to a terrorist strike on any country or region. A terrorist attack is a common thing that everybody is aware of. However of late, terrorist have one more form of weapon, namely-“Bioterrorism”.

Our project deals with the terrorist activities in the field of biotechnology, which is threatening the sustainability of our planet. The web of devastation is spreading rapidly with growing age of the spiders of violence and aggression. We have conducted a survey in which we have interviewed many professionals and members of our local community. We have developed and launched many new programs to create curiosity and awareness among the people to prepare for bioterrorism. In our programs we have also adopted an approach so as to increase the awareness and educate on preventive measures. We were prompted to see the past as an inspiration and not for imitation. It has instilled in us a hope of a better future in our every breath. We have a firm belief that we can arrest bioterrorism and ensure peace and sustainability of our planet. Through this project, we have understood how we as individuals can contribute towards our nation and prepare ourselves for any challenge.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:2-3

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dial-up modem

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:2-3

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

Unending needs of man resulted into various discoveries and research. In this modern world, a lot of new technologies have been invented and people are adopting them fast. But...

Even today, a large portion of our country’s population is not aware of accessing Internet. If we need to improve our present status, each and everyone should contribute towards the progress of the country. We accessed the Internet, learnt designing of web pages and were able to present our project in the form of web site.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

As it has been said, “Life is not a bed of roses”. We believe that “Bioterrorism” is a matter of concern for International Security, Health and Environment and cannot be dealt with separately. Therefore, we selected our project in category Five {International safety and security}. We had to overcome many hurdles with regards to consolidation of data, correctly assessing the awareness levels and web designing. We used search engines to acquire the best information database for our project. Our project content was brought in through extensive research from Internet after going through many references with the help of our coach. We made many references and consulted subject experts to get the best of the information. Consolidating information from net took as much time as our web designing part. Our group members were avidly involved in many other co-curricular activities like - • We conducted survey through interviews amongst many communities. • We also had a seminar titled “Teen orientation” in our school to create awareness in the young minds of teen-agers and to inculcate in them the thought of preventive steps to be taken during alarming situation. • We had a S-MUN conference session {Sanpada - Model United Nations} for which we selected ten countries and their delegates. They represented their country and its many issues with regards to bioterrorism. We conducted the S-MUN to fill the young minds with the ideas of how to deal with these types of issues in a diplomatic manner.

The last track was somewhat difficult as we got the interviews of individuals with much difficulty.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Educated, aware and alert people acts as a best defense for any country. We aim to achieve this through the content on our website and various programs we developed to carry out this mission. Door to Diplomacy Project has given us this opportunity to work in this area.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

Our project addresses terrorism with respect to microorganisms and development in the field of Microbiology and Biotechnology. This went beyond our existing curricula. We had an opportunity to enhance skills like organizing and planning events, preparing questionnaire, surveying techniques, data analysis, web designing, preparing presentations, public speaking, efficient internet search etc. We divided our project in parts such that each and every member got an equal learning experience. We got inputs for the project from the eminent educationists, research scientists, technical analysts and peer group. Our aim was to bring out thoughts of young minds and create an informative interactive and attractive website. We decided to involve the whole community. We collected most of the content of our project with the extensive search on the internet. We conducted a questionnaire based survey, met people of different age groups and sought their opinions. We analyzed these survey results representing them graphically according to age groups. We conducted a conference session S-MUN {Sanpada Model United Nations}. In this activity students were allocated different countries where they acted as the country’s delegates. They shared their views, policies, and agendas regarding international security specific to Bioterrorism. Our next step was to spread awareness about Bioterrorism. We organized many presentations in the school and we tried to fill their young minds with the enthusiasm for research and caution to the issues of bioterrorism. We organized a program “Peaceful Quotes” where participants were given a platform to express their views in the form of slogans, poetry, paintings and essay writing. Internet was most crucial instrument for quick learning and acquiring, consolidating data for our project. We firmly believe that the Internet is the key to wide information spread and communication with masses.

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

For our project we have extensively used our school infrastructure consisting of computer laboratory with 19 computers loaded with required software and Internet connectivity, scanners, video and digital still cameras and books from library. In addition, our team members used computers with internet at their home for this purpose. We have also taken help from some of acquaintances in this regard. We have mainly used Internet, Microsoft office, and knowledge of HTML for this purpose. This helped us significantly to compile and consolidate our project content and create our website.

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

We prepared a questionnaire and interviewed people of all age groups to involve them in our effort. E-mails were sent to experts for their views. We had a door to door survey to collect the views and opinion of the people. We conducted survey among our school students. Our project activities were carried out in pockets across the city and this also caught the eye of the local state newspaper. Articles printed about our project in the local state newspaper further increased the awareness of a large audience and thus helped in achieving our goal. We conducted a program “Teen orientation” for our school students for spreading awareness among young generation against Bioterrorism. We also organized conference session S-MUN {Sanpada Model United Nations}. In this activity students were allocated different countries and they acted as the delegates of these countries. The delegates shared their views, policies, and agendas regarding international security in specific to Bioterrorism. We have created a website “silentassaults.com” to spread awareness about Bioterrorism to prepare and alert them to deal with it. We met many professionals, educationist and Scientist and requested them to give their valuable suggestions and opinions regarding the project. In this way we would act as ambassadors of our country. We have also incorporated feedback and comments form in our website to remain in contact with our web visiting community. This will help us to further enhance our efforts in these directions.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

There had been changes in life style of the people through the growing tools and technologies. Safety and security has always been the prime concern for existence. We intend to create an awareness regarding Bioterrorism among the local as well global community with the help of our website. Through these efforts we foresee a world getting prepared to meet the challenges arising of Bioterrorism. We have a firm belief that a little contribution by many individuals can make a large impact. Our website will give an opportunity to the people of all age groups to express their opinion freely and exchange their views on the issues related to “Bioterrorism. Students not only have become aware but have begun to discuss effects of Bioterrorism and the new methods to combat this menace. Our presentation and survey has created a consciousness in everybody and the role to be played as an individual is now clearer. Our web page will generate a feeling of curiosity and gravity of the issue. To combat “Bioterrorism”, our small step in this direction, we have tried to make a difference. We have a firm belief that our efforts will be successful one day. This is just the beginning.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

We made a conscious effort to involve other students as well as people from different age groups in our project .We sought the feedback through survey of several members of different age groups of our local community These members have offered their expertise in several ways. They gave their inputs which were great leanings for us. In attempts to authenticate our efforts, experts outside the local community were also consulted these included professionals, educationist, Scientist etc. We the group members extend deep gratitude towards the all contributors who have helped us in our efforts to reach our intended goal.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

Our information gathering has led us to find out that ‘Bio’ attacks were used by warring kings and armies to win wars and cripple the enemy. This 'War Winning Method' is now used to endanger the lives of millions and literally be a threat to the entire human race. Our learning from this was that many major discoveries have a positive and negative impact on the lives of the people. They have to be used and deployed with a great understanding of co-existence. Any efforts in planning or using them destructively need to be nipped in the bud. Every effort counts. We have discovered the new ways of, how we as an individual citizen can contribute to the nation. We have discovered how to deal with the issues of bioterrorism in different ways. Through our survey, we were surprised that the many people were not even aware of the word bioterrorism. After our survey the people got familiar with the issues of Bioterrorism. We have developed a website which is very informative, and interactive. We are sure that it will create awareness among masses and will be the basic source of information for all age groups.