UNFOLD 2024 31-Aug-2024

Unison World School successfully hosted UNFOLD 2024, the first STEM-based Inter-School Competition, on August 31, 2024. The event brought together students from 11 schools across Dehradun to engage in a day filled with innovation, creativity, and learning. The Chief Guest for the event was Mr. Naveen Singhal, a distinguished alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. Mr. Singhal currently serves as the Dean of Alumni Relations and Chief Proctor at DIT University, Dehradun. His extensive experience includes roles as a State Nodal Officer for the Indian Red Cross Society, an Innovation Ambassador for the Ministry of Human Resource Development, a Public Relations Officer for Lions Clubs International, and an Official Trainer for the National Service Scheme in Dehradun The activities were designed to test the students' temperament and skills in areas such as Design & Technology, Science and Mathematics. Each challenge was crafted to assess the participants' ability to apply their knowledge in these subjects, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. The first activity of UNFOLD 2024, titled Orbital 1, presented participants with the unique challenge of constructing a car powered solely by a mousetrap. This hands-on exercise required students to delve into the principles of physics, specifically focusing on the conversion of potential energy stored in the mousetrap's spring into kinetic energy to propel the vehicle. Participants encountered various challenges, including optimizing the energy mechanism and ensuring consistent movement. Despite these difficulties, the activity provided an invaluable learning experience, encouraging critical thinking and real-time problem-solving. Students were able to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical context, deepening their understanding of energy conversion and mechanical design while working within time and resource constraints. Orbital 2: Catapult Construction Challenge The excitement continued with Orbital 2, where students were tasked with building functional catapults using pipes and strings. The objective was to transform stored potential energy into kinetic energy by launching projectiles through rapid arm movements. The room buzzed with enthusiasm as participants fine-tuned their designs, rigorously testing and adjusting their creations to achieve the best possible performance. This activity provided another engaging hands-on learning experience, reinforcing key physics concepts such as energy transfer and projectile motion. By the end of the event, it was evident that participants had not only enjoyed the challenge but also gained a deeper understanding of scientific principles.