In the early 1900s, ornithologist Frank M Chapman, from the National Audubon Society, USA, proposed a new holiday tradition - the Christmas Bird Census, encouraging people to count birds during the holidays than hunt them. Today, over 117 years later, the Christmas Bird Count is one of the most successful citizen science projects. This data led to Audubons 2014 Climate Change Report that indicates that 314 species of North American birds will lose more than 50% of their current range by 2080 due to climate change.

So, why is citizen science so important? How does it benefit busy urban folks? Is there a value to contributions made by amateur experts? For starters, it is a win-win situation. Most citizen science projects offer urban dwellers the opportunity to use their phones for the project and work closer to nature. Here are two such interesting projects coming up that will provide urban dwellers a chance to contribute to scientific inquiry and progress in a meaningful manner.

Roadkills.in is an initiative that collects data on mortality of animals on roads and railway lines in India. This initiative, which was started by the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), aims to engage citizens across the country. All you have to do is record events of roadkill of animals and upload the image with necessary details on the app. On its website, WCT elucidates why your help matters, "We hope that the data collected will be useful to researchers and road planners across the country to help in reducing wildlife mortality, install wildlife crossing structures and also improve passenger safety whenever a road is planned or upgraded."

"This one time, we counted off a good 15. If our observations and documentation can help wild animals, I would be more than happy to contribute. Its just depressing to see all this mortality and feel so helpless," says Priya R, a nature enthusiast based in Bengaluru.

Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) India is the Indian implementation of the global Great Backyard Bird Count, which runs for four days every February. Indian birders have participated in the GBBC since 2013. GBBC India, coordinated by the Bird Count India collective, strives to use the data to answer a variety of important questions, including how birds are distributed across the country, how they are affected by changes in habitat and weather, and whether populations and distributions might be changing from year to year.

GBBC India has been gaining popularity and has witnessed several people contributing to the cause since its inception. The 2016 edition of the GBBC engaged over 1,100 birders who uploaded over 7,900 lists and reported 785 species. Similarly, last years edition also saw participation from various birders, amateurs and professionals. According to the data released by GBBC, in 2017, over 1,500 participants spent close to 8,000 hours birding, uploaded 12,000 lists and recorded 825 species.

Dr Ullas Karanth, a wildlife biologist and senior conservation scientist, explains further, "Citizen science, if appropriately practiced, can - in addition to gathering high-quality data - channel energies of youth fascinated by wildlife into effective local conservation actions." As Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Well, here is your chance to be a part of the solution and fight the battle against the current extinction crisis, at the same time gain valid knowledge on the subject matter. Join the movement.

Gana Kedlaya

Every night during breeding season, the male túngara frog of Central America will stake out a performance patch in the local pond and spend unbroken hours broadcasting his splendour to the world. The mud-brown frog is barely the size of a shelled pecan, but his call is large and dynamic, a long downward sweep that sounds remarkably like a phaser weapon on Star Trek, followed by a brief, twangy, harmonically dense chuck.

Unless, that is, a competing male starts calling nearby, in which case the first frog is likely to add two chucks to the tail of his sweep. And should his rival respond likewise, Male A will tack on three chucks. Back and forth they go, call and raise, until the frogs appear to hit their respiratory limit at six to seven rapid-fire chucks. The acoustic one-upfrogship is energetically draining and risks attracting predators like bats. Yet, the male frogs have no choice but to keep count of the competition, for the simple reason that female túngaras are doing the same: listening, counting and ultimately mating with the male of maximum chucks.

Neuro-abacus

Behind the frogs surprisingly sophisticated number sense, scientists have found, are specialised cells located in the amphibian midbrain that tally up sound signals and the intervals between them. "The neurons are counting the number of appropriately timed pulses, and theyre highly selective," said Gary Rose, a biologist at the University of Utah, USA. If the timing between pulses is off by just a fraction of a second, the neurons dont fire and the counting process breaks down. "Its game over," Gary said. "Just as in human communication, an inappropriate comment can end the whole conversation."

The story of the frogs neuro-abacus is just one example of natures vast, ancient and versatile number sense, a talent explored in detail in a recent themed issue of the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, edited by Brian Butterworth, a cognitive neuroscientist at University College London, C Randy Gallistel of Rutgers University, and Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trento, Italy.

Scientists have found that animals across the evolutionary spectrum have a keen sense of quantity, able to distinguish not just bigger from smaller or more from less, but two from four, four from 10, 40 from 60. Orb-weaving spiders, for example, keep a tally of how many silk-wrapped prey items are stashed in the larder segment of their web. When scientists experimentally remove the cache, the spiders will spend time searching for the stolen goods in proportion to how many separate items had been taken, rather than how big the total prey mass might have been.

Small fish benefit from living in schools, and the more numerous the group, the statistically better a fishs odds of escaping predation. As a result, many shoaling fish are excellent appraisers of relative head counts. Guppies, for example, have a so-called contrast ratio of 0.8, which means they can distinguish at a glance between four guppies and five, or eight guppies and 10, and if given the chance will swim towards the slightly fishier crowd.

Three-spined sticklebacks are more discriminating still: with a contrast ratio of 0.86, theyre able to tell six fellow fish from seven, or 18 from 21 - a comparative power that many birds, mammals and even humans might find hard to beat. Despite the prevalence of math phobia, people too are born with a strong innate number sense, and numerosity is deeply embedded in many aspects of our minds and culture. Researchers have determined that number words for small quantities - less than five - are strikingly similar across virtually every language group studied.

They are more conserved through time and across cultures than words for other presumably bedrock concepts like mother, father and most body parts, with a few puzzling exceptions like the words for tongue and eye.

Social scorekeepers

Attitudes about animal numerosity have changed greatly since the mid-20th century when many researchers believed only humans had enough grey matter to think quantitatively. They cited as an object lesson the 1907 case of Clever Hans, the horse that supposedly could solve arithmetic problems and would tap out his answers by hoof; as it turned out, he was responding to unconscious cues from the people around him. Since then, researchers have approached the field with caution and rigour, seeking to identify the specific evolutionary pressures that might spur the need for numeric judgments in any given species.

Social carnivores like spotted hyenas, for example, live in fission-fusion societies, collectively defending their territories against rivals but in ever-shifting groups of widely roaming members. Sarah Benson-Amram, an assistant professor of zoology and physiology at the University of Wyoming, USA and her colleagues tested hyena numerosity skills in the field, playing back the recorded whoops of spotted hyenas living in South Africa and Namibia to hyenas in Kenya. The Kenyan carnivores reacted to the whoops of strangers as predicted, approaching the hidden source of the sound when they had a home team advantage, retreating when they heard a few too many distinctive voices in a row. Or sometimes, when the local hyenas were outnumbered, theyd call for backup.

Chimpanzees are social scorekeepers, episodic warriors and number ninjas, too. They can be taught to associate groups of objects with corresponding Arabic numerals up to the number 9 and sometimes beyond. They can put those numerals in order. The numeric working memory of young chimpanzees is astonishing: flash a random scattering of numerals on a screen for just 210 milliseconds and then cover the numbers with white squares, and a numerically schooled young chimpanzee will touch the squares sequentially to indicate the ascending order of the numbers hidden beneath.

Dont bother trying to do this yourself, Tetsuro Matsuzawa, a primatologist at Kyoto University, said at the scientific meeting in London on which the themed journal was based. "You cant." By the look of it, cerebral property in humans once dedicated to numeric memory has, in the six million years since we diverged from chimpanzees, been co-opted for grander purposes, like the ability to judge whether a sentence like this is true: "There is no non-vanishing continuous tangent vector field on even dimensional spheres."

A suitcase-sized satellites big image of earth

Recently, a satellite called Iceye-X1 hitched a ride into orbit aboard an Indian rocket. Its about the size of a suitcase and has already sent its first picture back to earth. The swath of the park visible in the first image is 1.2 gigabytes of data that encompasses an area about 50 miles long by 25 miles wide. It was made using a technology known as synthetic aperture radar, or SAR.

The capability of Iceye-X1 is not by itself groundbreaking. Edward R Caro, who worked for decades on spaceborne radar instruments at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA, said it is roughly comparable in performance to what he and his colleagues put on NASAs 5,000-pound Seasat satellite early in his career. "It would be analogous to what we were flying in 1978," he said.

But Iceye-X1, which weighs less than 220 pounds, takes advantage of the miniaturisation of modern consumer electronics, largely using off-the-shelf components, and the cheaper rides to space now available. The SAR technique takes advantage of the fact that the instrument is moving over the surface of the planet. The echoes of multiple pulses are combined to achieve what would be observed by one pulse from a larger radar antenna.

The search for a better battery

A team of scientists led by Sarbajit Banerjee from Texas A&M University, USA, has discovered an exceptional metal-oxide magnesium battery cathode material, moving researchers one step closer to delivering batteries that promise higher density of energy storage on top of transformative advances in safety, cost and performance in comparison to their ubiquitous lithium-ion (Li-ion) counterparts. "Magnesium is much more abundant than lithium, has a higher melting point, forms smooth surfaces when recharging, and has the potential to deliver more than a five-fold increase in energy density if an appropriate cathode can be identified," says Sarbajit in a paper published in the journal, Chem.

Evacuate Earth

Evacuate Earth is a National Geographic documentary, directed by Ted Schillinger, that portrays the hypothetical scenario of humans evacuating the planet Earth before it is destroyed by a rogue neutron star. The documentary details the technical and social complications of building a generation ship to save humanity and other earth organisms by relocating to a planet in another solar system.

The documentary proposes a thought experiment in which a neutron star approaches earth. Given 75 years to prepare, human society radically shifts towards the evacuation of earth. The propulsion system for the spacecraft is the first problem to be addressed. In a dramatic sequence, the worlds leading experts debate the benefits and drawbacks of various methods. To watch the documentary, visit www.bit.ly/2C4wJes.

Faster wound healing

Researchers from Sweden and USA have found a new way of accelerating wound healing. The technology and the mode of action involves using lactic acid bacteria as vectors to produce and deliver a human chemokine on site in the wounds. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Treatment of large and chronic wounds are a high cost burden to the healthcare system since effective tools to accelerate healing are lacking. Wound care today is limited to mechanical debridement, use of different dressings and significant amounts of antibiotics preventing or treating wound infections. There have been many attempts to solve the problem of chronic wounds that have failed. Drug candidates currently in late stage clinical trials comprise growth factors, which are traditional protein-based biological drugs associated with high costs, and some trials have been prematurely terminated.

"We have developed a drug candidate, a next-generation biologic medical product, and are now publishing the fantastic results from the preclinical part where wound healing was strongly accelerated in mice," says Mia Phillipson of Uppsala University, Sweden. The acceleration of the healing process occurs due to changes in the microenvironment in the wound, which change the behaviour of specific immune cells.

Organic solar cell mixture

Researchers have discovered a new quantitative relation that allows for quick identification of promising material combinations for organic solar cells. The discovery could significantly reduce the trial and error aspect of solar cell production by reducing the time spent on finding the most efficient mixtures. The research appears in Nature Materials.

Presently, chemists working to design more efficient organic solar cells rely heavily on post-mortem or post-manufacture analysis of the distribution of the constituent materials of the cells they produce. The high-performance solar cells we have now, for example, were created through a labour-intensive, trial-and-error approach of developing over 1,000 material combinations and looking at the optimal processing conditions for each one.

She has become one of the most sought-after singers in Bollywood today. Her grace, stage presence and her style statement is something that most of her fans admire. Neeti Mohan, who rose to fame with her debut with Vishal-Shekhar-composed Ishq Wala Love, has given many chartbuster hits like Sau Aasman, Tumhe Apna Banane Ka over the years. Neeti was in the city for Ozone Music Fest recently. In a candid chat with Surupasree Sarmmah, she talks about her relationship with her sisters and more.

How often do you visit Bengaluru?

I make at least three to four visits in a year and they are mostly for concerts. The airport is always too far from the venue and traffic is at its peak. (laughs)

You rose to prominence with the song Ishq Wala Love. Jiya Re, was another song that instantly became a hit. Of the songs you have sung till now, which is your personal favourite?

Every song is a part of me and is close to my heart. When I listen to them, I recall different memories attached to each one of them. Having said that, my current favourite is the song Nainowale Ne from the film Padmaavat. This song is something that I am feeling very happy about and is a dream come true to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

How has your life changed after Popstars?

It has drastically changed. Who would have ever imagined a girl from Delhi, who had no connection with the entertainment industry to suddenly land up in Mumbai and she would be finding her way through music. It is incredible. I feel like I am a part of a maze, I enjoy every small treat I find on my way.

How is your equation with your sisters, Shakti, Mukti and Kriti?

My sisters are my best friends. We share a very close bond with each other and share every little moment that happens in our lives. It has been this way and we want this relation to be like this. There is a lot of love and respect for each other.

There are many young singers like Shirley Setia and Atif Aslam, who are recreating classic songs like Jab Koi Baat. What do you think of these kinds of remakes?

I have been a part of many remakes myself and I think this is the flavour currently. These old songs help us learn different kinds of ragas, tunes and renditions. Today, people are accepting new voices, so they are also accepting new renditions. It is a great thing to revisit these old tunes.

If not a singer...

I would have been an army officer. I was always an active part of NCC and also received an award for the best cadet. Women in uniform always made me proud.

Your all-time favourite song...

Its difficult to choose one, but the song Mose Chhal Kiye Jaaye sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

An easy way to connect with your fans, Twitter, Instagram or
Facebook?

I think it is in the same order. I am more of a Twitter and Instagram person.

If youre a person who follows fashion, minimalism has been haunting you for at least the last four years.

Every time you open Instagram, you came cross yet another clean, all-white outfit. Whether you blame the social app or the fashion industry as a whole for this shift toward things that are black, white, and crisp all over, its been undeniable - and frankly, were ready for it to end.

Dont get us wrong: There are ways to do minimalism without it being boring. But to be totally honest, were on a mission to shake things up and leave all of our white poplin shirts behind. We are developing a love for all things embellished, printed, painted, glitzy, and textured.

Weve said it before and well say it again: 2017 has been the year for maximalist dressing. A few years ago, minimalism stormed the fashion scene, with neutrals, pared-down layers, classic silhouettes, and a colour called oatmeal that some consider soft and soothing, but to be honest, we have to admit that its a tad dreary. Now, were not saying that minimalism is over, or that it ever totally will, but we-and-everyone seems to be having a lot more fun with fashion again.

Were mixing prints, clashing colours, adding a ruffle here, there and pretty much everywhere. Our inner Iris Apfel is rejoicing as we stop taking ourselves quite so seriously.

The psychology of maximalist fashion

The maximalist trend; a bevvy of oversized coats, hoods, trousers and sleeves that are featuring on both sides of the Atlantic. However, this new trend pushes an artistic, non-functional style into the mainstream. A new cultural phenomenon is certainly afoot, but what does pursuit of the supersize mean as a reflection of our contemporary fashion consciousness? In an age when housing crises are plenty, and green spaces few, the design of clothes that take up more room provides an interesting contrast to problems that millennials face in grounding themselves in the world through larger things such as houses, cars and so on.

Whether its supersize sleeves, wide-leg trousers, the new it style of denim with drop crotches and a line legs, platform shoes or power hoods - perhaps maximalist dress is a means of laying claim on more of the world when other material desires are not attainable. Power shoulders, enormous puffer trousers, or oversized coats with commanding lapels - these are just some examples of the ways designers are exaggerating and super-sizing the body, working against rather than with it.

In inviting wearers to exaggerate and play with shape and style, one might conclude that fashion is inviting us to own our own monsters; to occupy what is frightening, as well as take charge of the space around us. Read in this way, maximalist style becomes empowering - though perhaps only for as long as you stay upright in your 20-inch platforms.

If you are looking forward to dressing up for a special occasion, the most important aspect is to get the perfect kind of makeup. With glossy lips and eyelids emerging as a favourite on the runway, many makeup artists have already given it a green signal.

For Vipul Bhagat, a celebrity makeup artist, it is no surprise that this trend is making a comeback.

He says that this feminine and sleek trend allows one to look stylish with very little effort.

"It is a trend from the 80s when glossy eyelids and lips were prominent both in Hollywood and Bollywood. Actors like Rekha, Rakhee and Pravin Babi have sported it often. Today, a lot of my clients request for this look for various occasions, especially middle-aged women as it gives a more youthful feel," he observes.

With summer around the corner, this trend is gaining much attention because of its alluring nature. Zara Syed, founder and makeup artist of Zaras International Academy, believes that the glossy effect tends to give out a fresh and dewy look. "Powdered eyeshadows generally smears after some time but this is not the same with glossy makeup. It stands out and makes a strong style statement. Bright shades of yellow, green, aqua blue and copper are perfect to get glossy eyelids. However, for lips, I would recommend summer colours like rose pink or peach," she advises.

Liquid matte lip colours were in for some time, but the fact that it makes ones lips dry after a while didnt find many takers.

Nisha Sablok, makeup artist and hair expert, is of the opinion that not everyone can carry the trend well. "Glossy lips and eyelids are definitely in right now. But the glossy effect doesnt look very appealing to people with thin lips. Glossy eyes are good for photoshoots but not great for personal styling. For people with hooded eyes, glossy shadows are a big no. It might crease up, creating a thin line on the lid," she says.

So is it apt for Indian skin? "Yes, dusky skin helps the glossy makeup to stand out even more. The shimmer in the makeup accentuates ones look."

With these makeup artists all set to experiment, looks like this trend is going to stay for a while.

They say that life is a matter of choices. Leaving a secure banking job of eight years to pursue acting was one of his choices. Leaving his hometown of Delhi to try his luck in Mumbai was another one.

Jitin Gulatis gamble has paid off. The model-turned-actor now has roles in films like MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Warning and Amen to his credit. A regular in many TV shows and the web series Inside Edge, Jitin was also one of the main leads in Sisak, touted as Indias first silent LGBTQ film.

Now playing the negative lead in Sonys new show Prithvi Vallabh, Jitin talks to Rajitha Menon about securing his place in front of the camera.

When did you decide to pursue acting?

I think I was born with the acting bug in me. I have been on stage since a young age and over the years, I decided that this is what I want to do. A turning point could be going to watch Amitabh Bachchans Hum in a rickety theatre in Faridabad when I was 11 years old. The entire atmosphere was so charged up that I made up my mind to become an actor right then.

What is your most memorable moment as a model?

When I was chosen as the face of Raymond in 2010-11. When a brand like that puts their trust in you, you become a brand yourself. Modelling itself has been a learning process and I have enjoyed my stint, working with different people on different projects in different places.

You have been a part of Bollywood for some time now...

Its a tough industry but I feel that if you want to shine, you need to go through the grind. If you have the talent and the temperament to handle success and failure, you will be rewarded.

What is the most important thing you look at before signing a project?

The director. Once you get to meet him, you understand his vision and the energy that hes coming with. I want to work with people I can learn from and look up to. The second most important thing is my gut instinct.

Tell us something about your new project Prithvi Vallabh...

Prithvi Vallabh is the story of a ninth-century king and his take on life and love. I play the role of King Taliap, the king of Maniket. Its being presented by Sonys sub-brand SET Originals and the first season premiered in January. The response to all things showcased in the show - be it acting, production value, VFX or costumes - has been tremendous.

What made you sign Sisak?

When I first heard about Sisak - a silent film which shows two men falling in love in a Mumbai local - I fell in love with the idea. It was a romantic one with a lot of cinematic possibilities. The movie gained a lot of applause as well as political momentum.

Its been a fulfilling journey for you we guess...

Definitely. Its taken a lot of hard work but I am happy now because I feel, for the first time, that I am at the right place doing the right thing.

Whats your fitness secret?

Just following the basics - exercising and eating right. More than looking good, it is important to feel good.

Ive always been obsessed with food but I never knew that I could cook till I started living on my own. When I was growing up, I loved watching my mother and grandmother cook and create delicious dishes. It was much later in life that I realised that I had a knack for cooking.

It all started when I was studying in the UK. I used to cook during house parties and my friends looked forward to my creations. When I got married, I used to cook for my wife. It wasnt just that I made something yummy, I also made an effort to present the dish in a particular manner. She was the one who encouraged me to start a blog and share my recipes.

I have my grandmother to thank for my cooking skills. Hailing from Kerala, I try to make the dishes my grandmother would fondly make for me and my cousins. I also like adding my own twist to traditional dishes and improvise it, if Im in the mood.

I like experimenting with other cuisines as well. Many of my recipes for my blog The Take It Easy Chef is inspired by my travels. My wife and I like trying new dishes and try making them at home.

The recipe of Bibimbap was also developed during one of our travels. I was introduced to this dish during my visit to the US. My wife and I loved the flavours and it took me a couple of trials to perfect the recipe at home. I did a lot of research and read articles about it to know what was missing.

Bibimbap or bi bim bap means mixed rice. It consists of a variety of sauteed, seasoned veg and meat served on a bed of rice, topped with a fried egg, and accompanied by some hot chilli pepper sauce (gochujang).

The authentic Korean bibimbap recipes use beef bulgogi (a cooking technique where meat is marinated and cooked on a grill), but this recipe features chicken slices instead. You can use any vegetable that can be sautéed for this delicacy. Carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and spinach are the most popular ones.

It also includes an accompanying sauce made of gochujang (a fermented red chilli pepper paste). Since I couldnt get hold of any gochujang, I used a different red chilli paste. The result was still great!

My wife and I found love with this dish, maybe you can too this Valentines Day!

Recipe:

Korean Bibimbap

For chicken bulgogi

Boneless chicken, 500 gm

Light soy sauce, 3 tbsp

Sesame oil, 1 tbsp

Pear, 1 medium (or a chunk of pineapple)

Garlic, 4 to 5 cloves

Ginger, 1 inch

Brown sugar, 1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Ground pepper

For sauteeing

Vegetable oil, 3 tbsp

Sesame oil, 1 tbsp

Light soy sauce, 1 tbsp

Sesame seeds, 1/2 tbsp

Spinach, 200 gms

Carrots, 2 medium

Mushrooms, 200 gms

Garlic, 4 cloves

Salt to taste

Other ingredients

Cooked rice, 4 cups

Eggs, 4 one for each serving

For Bibimbap sauce

Red chilli pepper paste, 2 tbsp

Brown sugar, 1/2 tsp

Sesame oil, 1/2 tbsp

Crushed dry chillies, 1 tsp

Water, 2 tbsp

Method

Clean and cut the chicken into small bitesize slices, and place in a mixing bowl.

Finely chop pear, ginger and garlic and add to the bowl.

Add one tablespoon sesame oil, three tablespoons soy sauce, one tablespoon brown sugar, salt, pepper and mix well to coat the chicken. Cover with a cling film, and marinate

in the refrigerator for an hour.

Wash the veggies. Finely slice the carrots and mushrooms.

Boil some water in a pot, toss the spinach leaves in, and cook them for a minute.

Take them out, drain off all the water.

Heat a skillet, add two tablespoons oil (any vegetable oil), one tablespoon sesame oil, and one tablespoon soy sauce. Mix well, and fry sesame seeds in this mix.

Scoop out 2/3 of this mix and keep it aside. Well use this to cook our chicken.

Add the drained spinach to the skillet, add salt, and sauté for a minute. Remove the spinach, and keep it aside.

Now add mushrooms to the skillet, add salt, and cook on a medium flame.

Once its cooked, transfer to a bowl.

Now stir fry the julienned carrots, and transfer to a bowl.

Take out the marinated chicken from the refrigerator.

Well cook this chicken in three batches. Add 1/3rd of the sesame oil mix that we had kept aside to the skillet. When the skillet is hot, add 1/3rd of the marinated chicken, and cook

on a high flame. Turn over occasionally, and cook for about 3 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken to a bowl, and repeat the process twice for the remaining chicken.

The last step of cooking is to fry the eggs. Add some oil to the pan (if required), and fry the eggs.

Take care not to overcook the eggs. The yolk should be runny when cut - that is the consistency that we are looking for. Now we are ready to assemble the bibimbap.

In a serving bowl, add a cup of rice, and top it up with equal portions of chicken, spinach, mushrooms and carrots. Place a fried egg on the top.

Repeat this for all serving bowls. Mix all ingredients mentioned in the bibimbap sauce section, and serve as the accompanying sauce.

Arun Velekkat

Chocolates, teddy bears and roses are routine gifts. Couples are now taking of experiential gifts. The choices are many: from a package with handpicked items put in a pretty little box to a day out.

As part of buying thoughtful gifts, some find gadgets as a good gifting option. Blogger Nivedith G says, "Since we are living in the gadget era and technology is an integral part of our life, gifting a useful gadget is a good idea. It will last longer than chocolates and roses and its something your loved one will cherish it whenever they use it."

Abhishek Kumar, the co-founder of Xoxoday says, Our company is all about hugs and kisses (aka XOXO) and Valentines Day is a just perfect way to spread the message. We have curated some exclusive experiences and moved a step up from dinners."

The startup has put together a selection of things one can do instead of a usual romantic dinner at a restaurant. They offer experiences like a view of sunshine from a hot air balloon ride at Jakkur, exclusive dinner under a helipad, a chocolate tour, a winery tour and to enjoy the evening under the stars.

But tread with care. The gifting madness can even ruin relationships. Counsellor Mez Sequeira says, "The whole idea of Valentines Day has become a cause of concern. Because of peer pressure, many young couples are worried about what to get each other. Theres no end to the expenses."

For some, it is just a conversation over a video call. Akshitha lives alone in Bengaluru as her husband Guruprasad works in Maharashtra. "Its the second year in a row I am alone on Valentines Day." They arent into buying gifts but they like to travel whenever possible. "As long as we explore a new place, we are happy to be with each other," she says.

Then there are couples who dont believe that love should be celebrated only for a day. Thats why Harleen Singh and Auditya Venkatesh arent making any plans. Harleen, an entrepreneur, says, "We buy each other gifts whenever we want to. Im planning to get a tattoo of Audityas name."

For those who want to make this day special, Mez advises, "While its nice to receive a gift, dont do it because you have to. Its not the only way to show how much you care." Be good to each other, be polite and dont wear a mask. Be yourself, be honest and your relationship will carry you through, she says.

Is your Valentine a gizmo buff?

Here are seven gift picks you could consider:

Amazon Echo, a cloud-based voice service-to play music, set alarms and timers, provide information, check your calendar. Rs 9,999
Valentines Day Limited Edition phones like Red Honor 7X (Rs 12,999) and One Plus 5T Rs 32,999
Instax mini 9 Instant Film Camera by Fujifilm Rs 4,035
Amazon Fire TV Stick, a streaming media player Rs 3,999
GoPro HERO6, action camera Starts from Rs 30,000
Bose SoundSport Free Wireless Headphones Rs 28,000
Fitbit Wristband Rs 14,999

* Curated by Nivedith G

As couples look forward to spending time at the citys parks and malls on Valentines Day, police are busy preparing to increase security.

T Suneel Kumar, the city police commissioner, said, "We will be arranging bandobast. Police officers will be doing the rounds and keeping a watch on Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, shopping complexes, malls, cinema theatres, and places that will see more footfalls. Places, where youngsters hang out, will be monitored."

CCTV cameras in Lalbagh will be used to monitor Valentines Day activity there. An officer and four other policemen are always posted there. On Thursday, the park will have three officers and 30 personnel.

In Cubbon Park, a police team of 12, headed by an officer, will do the rounds and keep vigil.

"Something like a public display of affection which annoys people is considered a nuisance and will be dealt with accordingly. Talking and walking together do not come under this," he says.

Gurpreet Kaur, Software professional

"My fiance and I went for a walk to Cubbon Park last year on Valentines Day and saw many policemen checking with couples when they would leave. I can understand questioning when someone is lewd or loud in conversation or action."

Chandrashekar M R, Deputy director (Lalbagh), Horticulture Department:

"Lalbagh has 100 CCTV cameras, installed in January. They will be used to make sure couples are not troubled and safety and security are ensured. Police will be patrolling the park. All gates of the park will be open and everything else will function as usual. We have no regulations on couples or anyone at the park. We will not use CCTV footage or question individuals at the park."

Jishnu Vijayan, an MBA student

"My girlfriend and I were at Lalbagh last year and some young policemen asked us to leave because we were hugging. We said we were not troubling anyone but they told us to leave for our own safety. We reluctantly left the park. Moral policing in the name of safety is a regular sight nowadays."

Debjani Aich, Partner and advocate of with Kochhar & Co,

"If two consensual adults are sitting and holding hands or are in each others arms, it would be difficult to construe it as being offensive in these modern times. Our country does not have rigid laws when it comes to electronic surveillance. When it comes to CCTV cameras, the police want to make sure no cases of sexual harassment or theft take place. Using CCTV cameras to monitor personal space is misusing power. PDA is not a criminal offence unless the act by itself is harassment."

If cops decide PDA is a nuisance...

They will book a petty case, and you will have to pay a penalty of Rs 100.

If they consider it a serious nuisance, they will launch an investigation.

(As told to Tini Sara Anien)

Actor-couples reveal what brought them together, and look back on the high and low points of their relationship.

Upendra and Priyanka

It is a little over 14 years since Upendra and Priyanka were married.

Who opened up first: Upendra says, "After acting together in Telugu movie Raa, I realised our friendship was slowly turning to love. I took the first step and confessed my love to Priyanka on my birthday. I said those three golden words, but not in filmi style though."

What she said: "Priyanka knew it. I think we were both meant to be together."

Looking back: "Respecting and accepting each other is important. What is important is love, understanding and not having too many expectations."

High point: "When our first child was born. Our children have added so much meaning to our life."

Low point: "We have our differences but we make adjustments."

Yash and Radhika Pandit

Yash and Radhika have been married for a year. They say they make it a point to be together on Valentines Day.

Who opened up first: Radhika says, "It was Valentines Day when Yash confessed his love for me."

What she said: "It took me six months to say yes. It was a big step and I had to be sure."

Looking back: "We have never gifted each other expensive stuff but little gestures and thoughts make our relationship beautiful."

High point: "Our friendship is beyond our relationship."

Low point: "Whenever we have an argument, I am the first to get back to normal, but Yash takes time. But this is also what makes our love so special."

Chiranjeevi Sarja and Meghana Raj

Chiranjeevi Sarja and Meghana Raj were engaged last year and will tie the knot this year. They have known each other for a decade.

Who said it first: Chiranjeevi says, "I took the first step and it was obvious we both felt the same way."

What she said: "Meghana was on the same plane."

Looking back: "This may sound a little mushy but its true. We have reached a point where we cant live without each other."

High point: "We worked together in Aatagara and got to spend a lot of time. Being with Meghana all day and night and for so many days was definitely a high point."

Low point: "Our relationship is never complete without the little fights and nagging."

Rithvik Dhanjani and Asha Negi

Rithvik Dhanjani and Asha Negi have been dating for six years.

Who said it first: Rithvik says, "We had feelings for each other. We both confessed it almost at the same time."

Looking back: "Asha has definitely made my life more meaningful and made me a better person."

High point: "There are so many, but I think our visit to the holy land of Jerusalem was unforgettable."

Low point: "I think every relationship has its low points. But our strong understanding makes a difference."

With a tagline that says Its easy being Green, it is not hard to decipher Khalibottles agenda. The web-based startup is a platform for individuals and corporates to sell their trash; a unique initiative to tackle a problem that is fast assuming gargantuan proportions in the city.

Founded by Naveen Mariyan, who quit his job at Zomato for this, Khalibottle took shape around a year back.

"The customer has to register first in our website. Post registration, it takes just 15 seconds to schedule a pickup request. The customer has to specify the approximate quantity of the product to be picked and recycled, update the location and schedule the pickup at a time convenient to them. There are different methods of customer paybacks, like giving them cash in hand or coupons from Flipkart, Freshmenu, Big Bazaar and so on. Customers can also donate scrap to charity," explains Naveen.

Khalibottle is a part of the NGO Jeevodaya and is currently functioning out of two warehouses in HBR layout and Kammanahalli. Till date, they have recycled more than 119 tons of trash and acquired over 4,256 registered users.

"We strictly follow a rule that non-recyclable products will not be picked up from the doorstep at any cost," says Naveen, adding,"Once the trash reaches our warehouse, a dedicated team segregates the products into categories. This is then sent to the recycling factories located in and around Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad."

Lending a dignity to the recycling profession was one of the main challenges the team faced. "Getting corporate companies and apartments to come to Khalibottle was a huge challenge for us. We introduced a dress code for our staff, are giving them weekly training sessions and created a formal environment to work in. We brought in certified digital weighing machines and maintained a standard price for all products."

"We have whole apartment communities recycling with us now. They are generating around 370kg for dry waste per week. This is huge progress," he says with a smile.

I love South Indian food. I was very excited when I moved to Bengaluru," says Esha with a giggle, when asked about her bond with the city.

Esha Savla is one of the latest entrants to namma ooru. Having moved here quite recently after her marriage to Ankit Chitalia, the two are slowly settling down in a city quite different from the one they were born and brought up in.

"Our families have been based in Mumbai for multiple generations," says Ankit, who works in KisanKraft. "I had always heard nice things about this city so after finishing my engineering, I came here to join my fathers friends company."

Its been seven years now and Ankit is no more an outsider. "The initial few months were difficult because my entire social circle was in Mumbai. But now I have many friends here. I have covered most of the citys must-see spots; an occasional walk in Lalbagh is my favourite pastime. Apart from that, I have been to places like Mysuru and Coorg," he says.

The weather charmed him to no end ("It is so beautiful its unnatural") but the work culture was a pleasant surprise too. "Even though the city is much more laid back as compared to Mumbai, work gets done at a much faster pace than I expected, especially in government departments where I frequently have to go as part of my job. Also, language was never a barrier for me. There was nobody who didnt give me an answer just because I didnt ask in Kannada," he says.

Esha too is well-acquainted with the city, having come here numerous times for work purposes earlier. "What I like is that there are not too many high-rises here. There are too many tall yellow, pink and green buildings in Mumbai. I also love the good number of parks you see in Bengaluru. My only grouse is that autos dont go by the meter and Uber is too expensive," she says.

Their weekends are spent indulging their tastebuds at some of the most happening places in the city. "We go to restaurants or pubs or catch a gig. TOIT was the first place I took her to. Apart from that, we also like Loft 38 and Three Dots and a Dash in Indiranagar. Koramangala is also a great place to hang out at," says Ankit.

"There is a good variety of food one can get here but sometimes I miss the chaats found on Mumbai roadsides. Also, in Mumbai you can get different varieties and quality of food in different price ranges; the variety is slightly lesser here for a North Indian like me," he adds.

He confesses that it was something of a culture shock to see roads going empty by 11 pm when he first came here years ago. "That was the time when people usually step out of their homes in Mumbai. Life, in general, was fast-paced there, people would always keep rushing. But I have adjusted to, and even started loving, Bengalurus chilled out vibe."

On her part, Esha, who works in Saavn, has taken to walking around on the streets in her free time, to understand the city better. "I like craft and painting and I try to do that during Saturday mornings when Ankit goes for work. I plan to go for some workshops soon."

Lecture on comets

M P Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, in collaboration with British Council, will be hosting a special lecture on the topic Comets by Professor Ian Wright from the Open University, UK. The lecture will be held on February 15, 2018 at 10.30 am at MPBIFR, Bengaluru campus. The entry is free and open to all. For further details, call 080-2238 5956 or email info@mpbifr-blr.in.

Scholarship

Strathclyde Business School is offering up to five studentships to students from India to undertake the one year MSc course in Global Sustainable Cities. There are two tranches of awards with deadlines of February 28 and May 1, 2018. For more details, email sbs.admissions@strath.ac.uk.

Fashion courses

International School of Design invites application for its Bachelors, Masters and Diploma programmes in Fashion Design & Technology. The batches will start from April 2018. To apply, visit www.bit.ly/2HcatTM. The last date to apply is February 28. For more details, call 011-42461100 or 9958616801, or email insdschool@gmail.com.

Diploma in PAM

The World University of Design has announced a diploma programme in Professional Automotive Modeling (PAM). The programme will commence from August 1, 2018. The last date to apply is April 2. Applications are available on the universitys website. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2nYFfrh.

Content writing internship

Thomson Reuters is hiring interns for Content Writing profile in Bengaluru. Students with knowledge of MS-Office, MS-PowerPoint, MS-Excel and proficiency in English (spoken and written) can apply by February 28. The stipend is Rs 20,000 per month. To apply, visit www.bit.ly/DH-211.

CEO for one month

The Adecco group opens registration for chief executive officer for one month 2018. The last date to apply is March 20. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2BswhKA.

Excellence scholarship

Newcastle University is offering 14 Vice-Chancellors Excellence Scholarship awards for outstanding applicants who apply to commence full-time undergraduate studies. The last date to apply is April 27 and June 29, 2018. For more details, email scholarship.applications@newcastle.ac.uk.

National level training

Department of Geography & Geoinformatics, Bangalore University is organising a national level training on Innovative Geospatial Technologies. The training will be held in two batches: the first between March 12 and April 1, and the second between May 7 and May 27. University or college teachers, research scholars working in Earth Sciences are eligible to apply. To know more, visit www.bit.ly/2sxXfh8 or call 09845634196.

Sales internship

Pearson India Education Services is hiring interns for Sales profile in Bengaluru. Students can apply by February 20. The stipend is Rs 20,000 per month. To apply, visit www.bit.ly/DH-212.

Young India fellowship

Ashoka University calls for the second round of applications for the Young India Fellowship, a one-year multidisciplinary postgraduate diploma programme in Liberal Studies. The deadline for submitting applications is March 4, 2018. For more details, www.bit.ly/2En0n0t or email yifadmissions@ashoka.edu.in.

Abhiprerana

challenge

Lets Endorse invites applications for ABHIPRERANA Challenge 2018 invites young student ideators and thinkers to come up with innovative ideas and proposals to improve the motivation of our school teachers and in turn improve the quality of education imparted. Individual or a team of up to three students can participate. The last date to apply is February 26. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2svf7ZF.

Photography contest

The Government of India invites applications for Photography with Railways Competition 2018 form Indian citizens. Participants can use both colour and monochrome images. The last date to submit applications is February 26. To submit, visit www.bit.ly/2ECzeu1.

UPSC tutorials

To facilitate aspiring candidates with quality exam help, Oliveboard has launched online tutorials for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) 2018 exam. To know more, visit www.oliveboard.in.

IASA scholarship

Insurance Accounting and Systems Association (IASA) invites applications for the IASA Scholarship 2018 from applicants pursuing bachelors degree and preparing for a career in the insurance industry. The last date to apply is February 28. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2GUOSiv.

Cybersecurity scholarships

Centre for Cyber Safety and Education invites applications for Womens Cybersecurity Scholarships 2018 from international applicants who are studying in Class 12 or passed, graduate or postgraduate. The last date to apply is March 1. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2ilsM19.

Anant Fellowship

Anant National University invites applications for the Anant Fellowship 2018 from students and practitioners from any discipline like architecture, design, planning, environmental science and engineering, civil and construction engineering. The last date to apply is March 4. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2CX5x6F.

EV4GH 2018

Emerging Voices for Global Health (EV4GH) 2018 is an international training programme for the young, emerging and promising researchers and health system actors. The last date to apply is March 5. For more details, visit www.ev4gh.net.

Gandhi Fellowship

Gandhi fellowship invites
applications for Gandhi Fellowship 2018 from graduates or postgraduates across all disciplines. The last date to apply is March 31. For more details, visit www.gandhifellowship.org or email tejal.raut@gandhifellowship.org.

Doctoral scholarship

University of Birmingham, UK, invites applications for Haywood Doctoral Scholarship 2018 from outstanding students who are willing to pursue a doctoral research in the History of Art. The last date to apply is March 2. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2nWYEJc.

NIIT Exam

Pratibha Education Society invites applications for National Information Technology (NIIT) Exam 2018 from students studying in Class 5 and above.The aim of the scholarship is to make Indians digitally literate. The last date to apply is February 15. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2F0kCSM.

Research internship

Charpak France invites applications for Charpak Research Internship Programme 2018 from students of economics, engineering and natural
science who are planning to pursue training at a French laboratory during their academic break. The last date to apply is March 4. For more details, visit www.bit.ly/2kmKUqe.

BA courses

The Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD) in collaboration with Kingston University, London, is offering full-time four-year BA (Hons) programmes in Communication Design, Interior Architecture and Design and Fashion Design. To apply, visit www.applytoiiad.com. The last date to apply is March 31. For more details, call 9871383633 or 011-41380000.

The United Nations has rolled out a framework of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that needs to be achieved by 2030. These goals have been formed to end poverty, reduce inequalities and address climate change. These goals follow the Millennium Development Goals, in which the reduction in poverty rate was a significant achievement. We now have a chance to bring the best of minds around the world to make these goals successful.

Social empowerment

Given the current pace at which the progress is made, the SDGs are projected to fail. Hence, there is a need for technically advanced, financially capable, intellectually brilliant and above all, people with a mission-driven heart, to bring about a changing impact in the lives of millions of people.

1 Million for 1 Billion (1M1B) is a foundation that aims to support the United Nations SDGs by identifying promising leaders of the future who have the ability to inspire people and create a positive social influence. 1M1B guides young and dynamic leaders who are focused on turning their passion and interests into impactful initiatives for themselves and the community.

1M1Bs Future Leaders is a programme that aims to create a new brand of socially conscious leaders who are connected to their communities. It works with young students (future leaders) through a leadership curriculum based on innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

The programme was piloted in March 2017 where four future leaders between the ages 13 and 17 presented their ideas and impact project at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the annual Youth Commission on Status of Women (CSW). Looking at the success of the pilot, the second pilot was started in August 2017 in partnership with The International School of Bangalore (TISB). Since then, 26 students from TISB have taken part in this six-month programme to create positive impact in the community through their projects. By the end of 2018, 500 more future leaders from 15 schools of India are expected to participate. Here is a look at some projects and work done by the students who have undergone 1M1Bs Future Leaders curriculum:

* The Project Fresh Start is an endeavour by Nikita Nambiar to provide a more holistic rehabilitative intervention to empower incarcerated women. It hopes to give women convicts an opportunity to break the cycle of incarceration and become productive community members. Ten women inmates of Central Women Prison, Tumakuru, are being trained in the art of making Tanjore paintings by a professional artist. She plans on auctioning off these paintings through a charity event at a later date and forwarding the proceeds to the women directly.

* Gautam Dayal is a budding photographer. He is working to contribute towards raising awareness about the industrial waste and untreated sewage that have polluted Bellandur lake. His action plan is to involve the residents in a clean-up and improvement drive with the help of local non-profit organisations that are working on this issue.

* Through his project, Arjun Kannan aims to create livelihood opportunities for the underprivileged. Arjuns project revolves around connecting underprivileged communities to employment opportunities in the garments industry. Armed with information on vacancies, recruitment criteria, expected wages and employment benefits, Arjun has conducted field visits to a few communities and met with people. He has already employed 10 underprivileged youngsters through his initiative.

These future leaders, along with 22 others will showcase their work at a event in Bangalore on February 18, 2018.

With exams around the corner, it is common for students to feel apprehensive and stressed. While some students are adept at handling the stress, some may not be able to shake it off. A reason for this happening may be due to anxiety. In such a situation, it becomes difficult for them to concentrate and study for the exam. As a result, many tend to fear exams. This anxiety, however, can be easily overcome if one plans well.
Heres how it can be done:

Start early: Students who revise the topics in each subject in a timely manner find that they can avoid any last-minute stress or exam pressure. The sooner students start, the better. Doing so can also prevent anxiety at the eleventh hour.

Frame a timetable: Create a schedule for each subject. Allot more time for the subject you may need to work more on. Additionally, ensure that it is a realistic one that you could follow.

Prepare notes: Do not try to by heart everything. Take time in reading the textbook. Then, write down the essential points that each chapter highlights. However, dont blindly write them down. Instead, write it down in a manner that you will understand. Doing so will boost your confidence level when it comes to writing the exam.

Set a target for each day: Keep a daily target for your studies and stick to it. During this time, avoid social media and watching TV as they will distract you from achieving the target you have set.

Take breaks: While you make your timetable, earmark some time for breaks. During your breaks, you can consider doing activities that are not related to your studies. For instance, you could tidy your room or even talk to your friend over phone.

When to study: When do you study better: during daytime or night-time? This is something that you will have to figure out. If you are able to concentrate better in the morning, then study tough subjects at this hour. If you are someone who studies better in the evening, then allocate the study time after that and keep easier subjects for the morning session.

Never compare: Trust yourself and use a method that works best for you. Dont try to adopt someone elses methods as everyone studies differently.

Make use of visual aids: While making notes, consider using charts and pictures. Doing so can make revising easier as one can recollect the topic better. To remember it even better, one can consider linking the points together by framing a story around it.

Do not hesitate to ask for help: When you sense you need help with any subject or a particular topic, do not hesitate
to ask for help from your parents and teachers.

Solve past papers: Studying a subject is incomplete without solving question papers from previous years. Doing so will let you know where you stand and how good your preparation is.

Have a balanced meal: Never skip a meal during exam time and avoid eating unhealthy food as it can increase your stress. Instead, have a balanced meal that can keep you alert, calm and healthy.

Sleep well: Dont study continuously without taking rest. So, try taking a nap in the afternoon. Also ensure that you sleep seven hours in the night everyday.

Meditation: Take some time to meditate everyday as it can help alleviate any exam stress you may feel, give you clarity and remove any unwanted thoughts. Whats more, it can also help improve your focus and performance.

Be positive: While preparing for a particular subject, visualise that you will do well in that exam. Visualising this on a regular basis can enable you to perform better on the day of the exam. So, if you find yourself overwhelmed, start visualising a positive outcome.

(The author is with Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru)

The transition from school to pre-university college (PUC) is never smooth for students as they miss many things they were familiar with in school. At the same time, PUC is a crucial stage for students as the subjects they select broadly decides their career path.

While it may be difficult to adjust initially, ones journey through PUC can be made enjoyable. Here are some areas that parents and teachers can help in to ensure a smooth sailing for students:

Adolescence: The rapid physical changes that students experience can often make them conscious of their appearance. In the absence of accurate information and proper guidance from parents and teachers, students discuss about these changes in hushed tones and often end up being ill-informed. As a result, at times the students academic performance may get affected. Hence, having a well-structured adolescence education
programme in school can help alleviate the problem and give students the right information.

Distractions: Students often find themselves easily distracted by social media, web browsing and long chats over mobile phones. Hence, it is important that they regulate their time online so that it does not affect their study time. If the students are aware of the pros and cons, they can be responsible users of electronic gadgets.

Peer group influence: Friends matter the most for youngsters. Friends can have both positive and negative influence. The negative influences can be worrisome for parents as students can pick on habits that can harm them. The only way to enable students to avoid developing such habits is by teaching them assertive skills. They should be able to decide what is good and what is bad for them and be able to say no when they feel so.

Difficulty level: Some students may find the course material a bit more difficult than expected. However, teachers often presume that students can cope with the difficulty. But often, it is found that many struggle to comprehend the nuances of certain subjects. Hence, to enable students to perform better, teachers can orient them on the nature of the subject and how they should go about studying it.

Quality of colleges: The academic ambience of a college matters the most for a student. With various additional programmes such as coaching for competitive exams being offered alongside the course, students often become confused as to what to choose. However, it must be kept in mind that it is not necessary to enrol in these classes. So, instead, take a look at other features such as infrastructure, available courses, class size and teaching quality.

Career choice: This is the right time to choose ones career. The choice of the appropriate stream leads to the desired career. Students should consider their interest and aptitude before deciding a stream. They should not choose a stream just because their friends have chosen it. The students can seek the help of a career counsellor in this regard.

Study plan: Effective study habits, time management and concentration are some of the crucial areas our students need to be aware of. But unfortunately, these topics are not covered in schools. It is taken for granted that these areas are taken care of by the students themselves.

Counselling: Many rush to a doctor at slightest physical discomfort. But our students or their parents do not approach a counsellor for any issues or concerns that may affect their academics. It is in fact
during their pre-university days that students are greatly stressed and need the services of a counsellor. A counsellor is someone who offers guidance on academic and personal matters. They also act as a critical support for a students learning and any social-emotional concerns that he or she may have. The proactive counselling involves different areas such as preventive, remedial, adjustive, developmental, educational, occupational information and crisis management.

Extracurricular activities: Apart from studying, PUC students need to also engage themselves in pursuing activities that stimulate their mind and body. This can include being a part of a sports team or a subject-related club in the college. However, it is important that the students strike a balance between studies and extracurricular activities.

With the right support and guidance through this stage, students can graduate from PUC with flying colours.

We live in a digital society. Todays youngsters inhale and exhale technology like the air we breathe. Traditional classrooms have accepted and adopted smart classrooms with grace. Honestly, we would be lost without search engines and the sea of information we have access to, through them. Online courses have revolutionised contemporary learning. "The obvious big advantage is that you get to learn what you want to learn which may or may not be available in local colleges," says, Tarun, a second PUC student who has enrolled for saxophone lessons online.

For involved learning

Why choose an online course? A university programme in this country or abroad is too expensive and the temptation of avoiding travel, campus distractions and of course, the convenience and freedom to study in the comfort of your home tips the scale in favour of online studies, is the general consensus.

So, many universities have realised the advantage of virtual education. The traditional four-year curriculum and the various options are now available online. You choose. They provide. What is important here is how invested you are in the learning process. Involved learning happens when you are engaged in learning what you wish to learn. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." Online learning can be further enhanced with these:

Concise information: Sulekha, an online facilitator, insists that preparing course material for an online programme is far more challenging than for a traditional pedagogic situation. "Thoughtful and careful editing is required to re-sequence lesson components," she adds. Time is an important element in these short-term courses and time efficient lessons which are concise and absorbing are important. Web accessibility for all is crucial. Students do not appreciate study materials that pose barriers in the learning process.

Prompt feedback: In a virtual classroom, where you could well be the lone student, self-motivation is the key to stay on track. But external support and regular feedback on performance, badges and points, and finally the certificate, act as powerful reinforcements. "I have a course based e-portfolio, which is like a planner and progress chart," explains Subhash, who is very excited about his online lessons. He also points out that self assessment can be at once motivating and a humbling experience, when one has to assess ones own involvement and performance.

Experts agree that response to student queries should be immediate. While e-mails and discussion forums are the regular norm or standard procedures used, to keep communication open, universities and even private tutorials offering online programmes, have instant messaging, a live chat room, an interactive homepage or even a link to a social media platform. There are video and audio inputs to make the lesson much more interesting.

Use of innovative technology: Social media can be used to spice up a course homepage. Adding a Twitter account or a Facebook link is an exciting way to extend your virtual classroom. When used cleverly, creatively and sparingly, it can create
a sense of classroom among students, and between students and instructors too.

A popular technique is the screencast video, which is digital recording of computer screen output. This is often enhanced with a narration that explains the process. This is also known as video screen capture. Students and instructors use this extensively to record video, demonstrate solution to a problem, share and collaborate for group projects, and on a touch-friendly online interactive whiteboard.

Student engagement

Distance learning is all very well but the self-pacing aspect of the study modules calls for initiative and focus on the part of the student. There are three key factors to student engagement in an online programme:

* The length of time spent in front of your system.

* The type or quality of time you give to each session.

* The intensity of interest during the learning experience.

Here are a few tips that can help you stay firmly on the seat of learning:

* Remember that it would never do to become too comfortable in a home environment when it is study time. Have a uncluttered table, a straight-backed chair and good lighting while take the online class.

* Take regular breaks to avoid staring at your computer screen for long.

* Keep your goals realistic and achievable. Dont leap before you learn to walk. It is smart to start with the familiar and work steadily towards the unfamiliar. This helps play on your strengths first and seek support where you lack skills.

* Create a master study plan for each module or unit of study for a specific length of time, maybe a week or month. Set deadlines to keep as close to the schedule as possible.

* Zoom out of the lessons and assignments when they threaten to overwhelm you. Sit back, remind yourself of the positive outcomes in the future. The big picture will relieve the mind of the immediate clutter of work.

* Often, one may get distracted and go off-track while learning online. To avoid this and ensure productivity, all possible distractions need to be minimised. This can be easily done through a variety of ways. For instance, one can consider installing a productivity app.

* Reward yourself after you meet each short-term goal, like completion of a task, or reaching a level of competency in your learning. You can celebrate your achievement too, by treating yourself to something which makes you happy. "I allow myself to text my friends and just chill for a while," a youngster reveals.

* Turn a deaf ear to demotivating comments. You are the best judge as to why you picked the course and you know where you are going with it. Stay positive and you will have the last laugh when you earn the credentials at the end of it all.

Online courses are the perfect options for students and working adults who have multiple demands on their time. It is for self-driven individuals who want to learn something new, despite busy schedules. So, stay positive and follow these tips to ensure a successful completion of your course!