The district-level celebration of Environment Month 2025, organized by the Breakthrough Science Society – Thiruvananthapuram Chapter, turned out to be a truly uplifting and inspiring experience. Held at the College of Engineering Trivandrum, the program brought together the energy, insights, and voices of students from across the district, united in their concern for the environment and their desire to act meaningfully.

The day began with the Environmental Quiz Competition, conducted across three categories – Upper Primary, High School, and Higher Secondary. Over 30 schools enthusiastically participated, reflecting the growing curiosity among students about environmental issues. The prelims and finals were handled with precision and passion by our quiz masters: Dr. Renjith S. (CSIR–NIIST) for the HSS category, Albin P James for High School, and Ranilakshmi M.S. for Upper Primary. The students’ competitive spirit, quick thinking, and command over facts made it a lively and engaging start to the day.

Following the quiz, the heart of the day unfolded through Green Voices, our student presentation platform designed to bring attention to local environmental issues. The school-level presentations took place in the morning session and left us awestruck. Students from Class 5 to Plus Two stood up with quiet confidence and bold clarity, presenting topics that ranged from marine pollution caused by cargo ship accidents, flash flooding and plastic waste in Ulloor, and coastal erosion, to studies on the pollution in Killiyar River, carbon footprint awareness, sustainable ward models, stray dog overpopulation, loss of biodiversity, and more. Each presentation reflected serious thought, real-world observation, and in many cases, hands-on data collection and field study. The judging panel — Anoop S. (Environmental Science Dept, Karyavattom), T.M. Vishnu Maya (NCESS), and Shaji Albert (Secretary, Breakthrough Science Society Trivandrum Chapter) — noted that the dedication these students showed, both in topic selection and in preparation, was nothing short of remarkable.

In the afternoon session, the college-level presentations carried the baton forward with analytical depth and maturity. The topics touched on a wide range of pressing concerns, including microplastic pollution, waste management in educational institutions, ecological degradation of water bodies like Aakulam Lake, space constraints for waste disposal in Vizhinjam flats, innovative solutions like biodegradable plastics and SmartBins, and community-level marine conservation efforts. The judging panel — Prof. Kurien Issac K. (President, Breakthrough Trivandrum Chapter), Dr. Anoop Krishnan (Scientist, NCESS), Adarsh S. (Environmental Science Scholar), and Ajith (Wildlife Trust of India) — appreciated not only the scientific grounding of the presentations but also the sincerity with which the students approached their subjects.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the valedictory session brought everyone together in a spirit of shared celebration. Prizes, including book coupons and a copy of “The Shattered Glass and Other Stories from My Life” by our close associate Jasper Lal Jith, were distributed to the winners. But beyond the prizes, it was the sense of purpose, connection, and possibility that truly filled the hall. For many students, this was their first experience presenting in a public forum; for others, it was a platform to voice concerns that affect their own communities. And for all of us, it was a reaffirmation that young people, when given the opportunity and encouragement, rise to the occasion — not just with facts, but with imagination and a sense of responsibility.

Behind the scenes, the program came together through the efforts of an outstanding team. Dr. Adarsh N., Suja Raveendran, Ajith Mathew, Sidharth, Jishya, Abhiram, Sharon, and many others ensured that each detail was handled with care. Volunteers from Govt. College Attingal, students of the Environmental Science Department, Karyavattom, and members of the Breakthrough CET Chapter played an essential role in coordination and logistics.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the authorities of CET for hosting the program and to the Wildlife Trust of India for their generous association.

As organizers, we are truly overwhelmed with gratitude and enthusiasm. The spirit we witnessed — the questions asked, the confidence shown, and the bonds built — gives us hope and strength to continue. We acknowledge that there may have been some inconveniences during the event, and we sincerely regret them. We promise to learn, improve, and do even better in the future.

Above all, we are proud to say: we have fulfilled the objective of Environment Month. We set out to create a space for students to think critically, act responsibly, and speak up for the environment — and they did. With events like Green Voices and the district-level quiz, we are not just organizing programs; we are building a movement rooted in science, justice, and care for the Earth.

📚 What’s Next?

To ensure that the knowledge shared during this program continues to grow and reach more people, we are excited to announce the following:

A proceedings booklet featuring selected abstracts from the Green Voices college presentations will be published shortly.

A bulletin summarizing the full Environment Month 2025 activities conducted by Breakthrough Science Society – Trivandrum Chapter will also be released.

We will be publishing recordings of selected student presentations on our Breakthrough TVM YouTube Channel, making these important voices accessible to a wider audience.

We invite everyone to stay connected and be part of this ongoing collective journey for a better and greener future.