Fri Dec 20 21:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Visakhapatnam Students Win US Fellowship for Seagrass Restoration Project

**Visakhapatnam, India (December 21, 2024)** – Four final-year biotechnology students from Dr. Lankapalli Bullayya College in Visakhapatnam have won a 10-day fellowship in the United States for their innovative seagrass restoration project. The students, T. Harshitha, A. Tejaambik, M. Ashwini, and J. Karthikeya Narayana, along with their faculty guide B. Madhavi, secured the fellowship through the Climate Tank Accelerator competition, a collaborative initiative between the Student Society for Climate Change Awareness and Seeds of Peace USA.

Their project, “Pioneering Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Restoring Seagrass Meadows in Visakhapatnam Coast,” focuses on restoring the city’s coastal ecosystem using seagrass species sourced from Odisha’s Chilika Lagoon. Seagrasses, crucial for carbon dioxide absorption and marine life support, were replanted at Mangamaripeta beach. The team also conducted outreach programs, including an art exhibition, to raise awareness about the importance of seagrass ecosystems.

The project faced challenges including unpredictable weather, but the students persevered, balancing their academic commitments with the project’s demands. Their success in the competition earned them a $1,000 reward and the prestigious US fellowship. The college administration is reportedly seeking to highlight the students’ achievement on the Prime Minister’s Mann-Ki-Baat program. The project’s entire cost was covered by the US team, with additional support from the college.

Read More