Our first workshop demonstrated that grassroots scientific research is not only possible — it works.
India's first grassroots thermoelectric research workshop for marginalised school students.
The Bodhaayan Vigyan Karyshala was held at ASHA Trust School, Nagepur Village — a rural community with limited scientific infrastructure but enormous student curiosity.
Over four intensive days, fourteen students from marginalised backgrounds discovered what it feels like to be a scientist: asking questions, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and observing results.
Students built a thermoelectric energy harvesting system — a device converting heat from a traditional chulha burning upla (cow dung cakes) into usable electricity via TEG (thermoelectric generator) modules.
This project was chosen for its cultural and practical relevance: the chulha is ubiquitous in Indian villages, and thermoelectric energy conversion has enormous potential for off-grid rural communities.
"For the first time, I understood that science is not something you study — it is something you do."
— Student participant, Nagepur Workshop
Introduction to heat energy, the Seebeck effect, and thermoelectric principles.
Assembled TEG modules, learned circuit basics, connected components.
Built the full thermoelectric chulha, conducted live tests with upla combustion.
Students presented findings. Certificates issued with Asha Trust. Local news covered the event.
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A working thermoelectric generator integrated with a traditional chulha — a genuine scientific achievement.
All 14 participants received certificates issued in collaboration with Asha Trust.
Local news channels and newspapers covered the workshop, amplifying grassroots science visibility.
Students experienced the scientific method — hypothesis, experiment, observation, iteration.
Sparked community-level conversations about science and the potential of young people.
Proved the Bodhaayan model works at the grassroots level — foundation for national scaling.