The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Hero MotoCorp Ltd. in association with the Ministry of Environment and Forest organised the 12th edition of the TerraQuiz, a one-of-its-kind international inter-school environment quiz competition. The show, hosted by VJ and Actor, Mr. Purab Kohli, will go on-air on the Discovery channel early next year.
In a 13-episode series, students fight it out to become ‘Environment Ambassadors’. The quiz helps to choose some of the most environment-aware children and while appreciating their efforts, it also encourages them to be torch-bearers of the cause.
As ambassadors, they are expected to initiate or lead environmental activities in their respective institutions. This has been conceptualised with the intention of creating environmental leaders who would actively participate in conservation activities and promote environmental citizenship
amongst peers, family and society.
While distributing awards, Dr. R K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI, said, “It is the youth of this world and their understanding of environmental protection that can help meet the challenges ahead in protecting mother earth. TerraQuiz is an important step to inform and mobilize the youth of the world in this crucial mission. In their role as ‘Environment Ambassadors’, they can be major agents of change for a sustainable future.”
Applauding the students, Mr. Anil Dua, Sr. Vice President - Sales and Marketing, Hero MotoCorp Ltd said, “Hero MotoCorp Ltd has believed in the potential of this project from its very inception. The organization is a firm believer of issues which helps protect the ecology that we enjoy around us and our alliance with TERI through TerraQuiz showcases a commitment and contribution for a cleaner and greener future, helping spread environmental awareness amongst the next generation.”
Students from across the length and breadth of the country, as well as contestants from across the globe participated in the competition. Students from the Middle East took active participation in the competition.
The 12th season was hosted by VJ and Actor, Mr. Purab Kohli. The actor known for his vivacity and youthfulness believes in the ‘green’ cause and had a roll while hosting the show.
The 64 children who finally appeared on the show have been chosen from over 2, 40,000 participants who sat for the Green Olympiad examination. The Green Olympiad is a one-of-its-kind that adjudges a student’s environmental knowledge. School children from 3200 plus schools from across the country and schools in the Middle East and South East Asia appeared for this test.
Apart from being linked to the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE),
CBSE; the Olympiad has also been endorsed by UNESCO and DESD (Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2004-2015). Youth icons Irfan Pathan and Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore have helped in furthering the cause, and spreading the message.
The questions asked in the competition are drawn from topics of daily concern, both logical and global. Being an extremely effective medium to convey crisp messages in a short period of time, it contains an inherent element of knowledge and competition. Its unique structure questions and educates viewers and participants simultaneously.
Organised by TERI’s Educating Youth for Sustainable Development division, it is one of TERI’s unique initiatives to sensitise the young to create an ecologically sustainable society. Through the year TERI is constantly interacting with educators, students and organisations across the country, from both rural and urban areas, to create a bridge between these young agents of change and environmentalists. Terraquiz aims at entertaining children, as well as sensitising them towards environmental causes.
