Manipal: Chirag Manchanda a second year Mechanical Engineering student of Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal won the 2015 Avery Dennison Foundation Spirit of invention (InvEnt) scholarship award of $1300 for his innovative project idea, “Chemical based Mechanical Heliostat”. He is the first student from MIT, Manipal University to bag the award.
Heliostat is aimed at building a device that imitates the sunflower’s ability to continually turn its face toward the sun, enhancing the amount of energy absorbed by the solar panels.

The Avery Dennison Foundation Spirit of Invention (InvEnt) Scholarship Programme is designed to recognize and reward invention, innovation and excellence in high-achieving students studying in the fields of science, engineering and technology at selected higher education institutions in India and China.

The programme was developed to encourage students to continue in these fields after graduation by helping them meet their financial needs during the period of their college attendance. The scholarship is primarily merit-based.

An elated Chirag said he was happy to win the scholarship which is prestigious. “I will continue with more innovations and hopefully, come up with more inventions,” he said. In the final interview round there were 20 entries.