SciQuest 2026 : Exploring the Universe

A Two-Day National Level Workshop titled “SciQuest: Exploring the Universe” was organized by SPACES Degree College(A), Payakaraopeta, under the aegis of Sri Prakash Educational Society. The workshop was conducted on 27th and 28th February 2026 with the theme “IKS for Sustainability – Innovate Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.” The event aimed to promote scientific thinking, innovation, and sustainable development among students by integrating the wisdom of the Indian Knowledge System with modern scientific practices.

The workshop was presided over by Dr. Kantipudi Narendra Babu, President of Sri Prakash Educational Society. The Chief Patron was Ch. V. K. Narasimha Rao, Secretary and Correspondent of the society, and the Patron was Ch. Vijay Prakash, Joint Secretary. The event was convened by Dr. A. R. K. Reddy, Principal of SPACES Degree College.

The program was organized under the guidance of Dr. A. K. Tripathy, Head of the Department of Biochemistry and IQAC Co-ordinator, who served as the Organising Secretary. The Program Co-ordinators included S. M. V. S. Kumar, Head of the Department of Computers; K. Nagabhushanam, Head of the Department of Chemistry; and Ch. Mangatayaru, Head of the Department of Zoology.

The opening ceremony of the workshop was held on 27th February 2026. The Chief Guest, Dr. Venkatesh Devanur, CEO of Agrilife and Managing Director of Phytopharma India Limited, Hyderabad, addressed the gathering and spoke about the importance of innovation, sustainable agricultural practices, and scientific research in building a better future. The Guest of Honour, B. Subhash Chandar, Grassroots Entrepreneur and CEO of Creative Minds, inspired the participants by sharing insights on grassroots innovations and practical solutions for real-world problems.

A special attraction of the workshop was the innovation exhibition conducted in collaboration with Palle Srujana, a non-governmental organization that promotes grassroots innovations. As part of this exhibition, eight grassroots innovators showcased their unique and practical inventions, providing students with an opportunity to interact with the innovators and understand the real-life applications of science and technology.

Several competitions were organized for students as part of the workshop to encourage creativity and scientific exploration. These included Poster Presentation on the theme Innovate Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow, PowerPoint Presentation on Quantum Computing – The Future of Modern Science, Science Quiz, and Science Projects. Total participation included 10 colleges (including SPACES), with 180 students from other colleges and 368 students from SPACES.Each participating college was allowed a maximum of three teams per event with three members in each team.

The valedictory ceremony was conducted on 28th February 2026, marking the conclusion of the workshop. During this ceremony, the winners of the competitions were announced and awarded. Cash prizes were distributed, with ₹3000 for winners and ₹1500 for runners-up in each event.

The two-day workshop provided a valuable platform for students to learn, innovate, and showcase their talents. The expert talks, competitions, and the grassroots innovation exhibition greatly enriched the participants’ knowledge and encouraged them to think creatively about sustainable solutions for the future.

SciQuest 2026 was a grand success and served as an inspiring initiative to promote scientific awareness, innovation, and sustainable development among students.