Students of GIIS Bannerghatta recently took part in a Grade 12 Student Exchange Programme hosted by Vikaasa School – Heritage Campus, Madurai. The theme of the event was "Physics Behind Smartphone Sensors – From Newton to Notifications". Teams from GIIS Bannerghatta, GIIS Whitefield and the host campus came together to show how the physics taught in class is used in the phones we carry every day.

Each team was given only 10 minutes on stage. In that time, they had to pick a concept from classical physics and explain how it works inside a smartphone. The examples included tilt sensors that sense when the screen is flipped, proximity sensors that turn off the display when the phone is held to the ear, and gyroscopes that keep a photograph steady. With so little time, the teams had to plan well and explain their ideas clearly to the judges and to the other students in the room.

At the end of the event, the GIIS Bannerghatta team of Vydoorya, Aaliyah Rehman and Sibani was declared the winner. The judges appreciated their fresh examples, their clear scientific reasoning and the confidence with which they answered questions from the panel.

To reach this stage, the team had to do much more than revise their textbook. They had to look for examples that were new, share the research among themselves and practise several times before presenting to an audience they did not know. Meeting students from GIIS Whitefield and Vikaasa Heritage Campus also showed them how others approached the same topic, and helped them see that one idea can be explained in many different ways.

This way of learning reflects GEM 6 (Innovation and Creativity) of the GIIS 9 GEMS framework. This GEM encourages students to think beyond conventional boundaries and to use what they learn to understand real-world situations. Here, the students took a familiar object like the smartphone and used physics to explain what happens inside it. In doing so, they strengthened their critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork, which are the skills GEM 6 aims to build.

Their presentation also showed that the laws given by Newton more than 300 years ago still explain the sensors inside a modern phone. It is a good reminder that what students learn in the classroom stays useful in the world outside.

For Vydoorya, Aaliyah and Sibani, this win is about more than a good understanding of physics. It also reflects the curiosity, calmness and communication skills that GIIS Bannerghatta helps its students develop, and these will continue to help them in the years ahead.

Congratulations to the winning team on their well-deserved first place.