The students arrived from 11 nations to partake in International Biotechnology Festival ‘Quest-2011′ being organized by City Montessori School, Rajendra Nagar (Campus I) at the CMS Kanpur Road auditorium today on the 2nd day showed their talents through various contests like debate, slogan writing and poster making, quiz and website designing etc. Earlier the Chief Guest of the second day’s events, Dr Nitya Anand, former Director, CDRI lit the lamp of learning to open the festival ceremoniously whereas Dr P K Seth, CEO, Biotech Park, Lucknow was the chairperson. Dr Nitya Anand spoke in his opening speech that human beings are merely a part of this universe and various interesting contests of ‘Quest-2011′ are trying to unfold the mysteries of life where humans, animals and plants all are interconnected.  He urged the young scientists came from all corners of world that they are the hope of future so they must preserve water and other natural resources. Dr P K Seth, CEO, Biotech Park, Lucknow said in his Keynote address that Biotech is helpful in agriculture, health, medicines and other fields which will also help in earning money.
The 2nd day of International Quest-2011 was beneficial for the participants as they heard meaningful speeches of renowned experts and scientists and understood biotechnology. Dr Jagdish Gandhi, Founder of CMS and renowned educationist, spoke on ‘The kind for education required for the 21st century’. Dr Gandhi said that modern era is the time of biotechnology. These contests provide time to these participants to exchange their thoughts which will help later in uniting the world. Prof. S. Hasnain, IIT Delhi, spoke on ‘Unraveling the mysteries of life is very exciting and challenging’ as biotechnology has a distinct place in all forms of science which is totally dedicated to human welfare.
Debate competition had been the main attraction of morning session which was made memorable by the effective and powerful speeches of contestants came from across the globe. Renowned Quiz Master, Mr Barry O’ Brien conducted the debate based on the topic ‘Should genetically modified food be banned’, in which 50 teams participated with their utmost knowledge. Each team had one participant with three minute’s time to speak for or against the motion. Millena of Intellectual Boarding School, Russia said that it should be banned as use of pesticides in agriculture causes harmful effects on environment. Sachin Arvinda of D S Senanayke College, Sri Lanka said against the topic as the world population will become several times larger than now hence food problems can only be solved by genetically modified foods. He said that it is the solution for the future revolution. Varun Malhotra of Doon School, Dehradun said for the motion that food problems can be solved by removing politics and by right distribution. Dr A K Sharma, Department of Zoology, Lucknow University; Dr Y K Sharma, Botany Department, Lucknow University and Dr A Rajnikanth, Scientist, Birbal Sahni institute of Paleobotany were the judges of the event.
Slogan Writing and Poster Making contest was held separately for junior and senior category on ‘Roll of Biotechnology in the conservation of Environment’. The contestant from various parts of world actively participated and presented their creativity combined with artistic talent. All the participants seemed masters of their brush, paint and colours, used them artistically and their creation presented the divine flavours of nature. Their thoughtful creation took form in slogan writing. In the afternoon session written round of website designing and quiz contest was held. All the participants actively took part in it and presented their knowledge in science.
Chief Public Relations Officer of CMS, Mr Hari Om Sharma informed that approximately 500 young talents of 11 countries viz Singapore, Russia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Gambia, Nepal, Bhutan, Japan and various states of India are participating in ‘Quest-2011′ to show their outstanding talent. Tomorrow, on August 5, the third day of the festival the young genius will test their calibre in power point presentation, collage etc. The other hand a seminar on the topic ‘Green Biotechnology and climate change’ will be held and Dr. G. Choudhari, HOD, Gastroenterology, SGPGI, Lucknow and Dr V P Kamboj, Ex-Director, CDRI, Lucknow will enlighten the young participants from India and abroad.

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