A student presents a paper at the seminar on Monday. Picture by Gautam Dey

Dhanbad, Jan. 8: Fourteen Plus Two students of eight schools and colleges of the coal capital on Tuesday presented papers on the importance and conservation of bio-diversity at seminar organised by a local NGO.

The organisation — Insearch — hosted the seminar in collaboration with the environment science department of the Indian School of Mines University (ISM) and the divisional forest department of Dhanbad to spread awareness about bio-diversity among the youth. The NGO members said: “Over 250 students responded to the programme. They were from Delhi Public School (DPS), Rajkamal Saraswati Vidyamandir (RSS-VM), DAV School, Koylanagar, Dhanbad Public School, SSLNT Women’s College and Ahsan Alam Memorial Inter-College.”

The secretary of Insearch, A.K. Kanth, said the students got the topic a month ago and were asked to submit their write-ups. The best ones were chosen for presentation at the seminar.

The bio-science teachers of the participating schools were also invited to judge the presentation of the students along with the faculty members of ISM’s environment science department.

Priyamvada, a Class XII student of DPS, clinched the first prize. Pragati, Class XI was awarded the second prize while Saurav Singh, a Class XII student of RSS-VM, bagged the third prize. Two consolation prizes were given to Nishant Ranjan (Class XI) of DAV School, Koylanagar, and Aditi Swaraj (Class XI) of Dhanbad Public School.