Padur, OMR | Saturday, 13 June 2026
Families, outgoing Class 12 biology students, teachers and IIT Madras researchers gathered at EPIC SS [Eco Park and Information Center – Sustainable Solutions] for an immersive day of practical sustainability and learning through nature.
The programme brought participants closer to practical sustainability through a guided campus tour, live demonstrations, conversations and direct interaction with nature.
CHSS, Thiruvanmiyur
For the school students, the visit provided an opportunity to connect subjects they had studied in biology classrooms with real-world ideas involving food, plants, biodiversity, renewable energy, water, soil and sustainable living.
Watch the Visit
An EPIC Adventure Through Nature
During the visit, participants moved through the green campus, gathered around demonstrations, observed plants and sustainability systems, and interacted with the EPIC SS team.
“EPIC adventure through nature.”
— How the students described the programmeThe naturally shaded environment became an informal learning space outside the conventional classroom. Students were able to observe, ask questions and understand how sustainable principles could be incorporated into everyday life.
The visit was not limited to technical explanations. It encouraged students to examine their daily habits, the food prepared in their homes, the use of small urban spaces and their relationship with the natural world.
Experiencing the Bird-Watching Area
The participants also visited the bird-watching area at EPIC SS Padur.
Surrounded by trees and vegetation, the space encouraged the students to slow down, listen and observe the natural environment more carefully. It demonstrated how green spaces can support birds, insects and other forms of biodiversity even within areas affected by urban development.
For the biology students, the experience provided a direct connection to topics such as habitats, ecosystems, food chains and biodiversity conservation.
“The First Thing I Will Do Is Thank My Mother”
One of the most touching reflections came from a girl student who spoke about the millet-based food her mother regularly prepared at home.
She explained that her mother frequently made ragi dosa and other millet dosas, but she had previously disliked eating them. Until the EPIC SS visit, she had not fully understood why her mother continued to include such food in the family’s meals. After learning about traditional grains, nutrition and sustainable food practices at EPIC SS, her perspective changed.
“My mother makes ragi dosa and other millet dosas, but I used to hate them. After coming to EPIC, I understood the importance of what she was doing. The first thing I will do after going home is thank my mother.” — Outgoing Class 12 biology student, CHSS Thiruvanmiyur
Her response showed how environmental learning can influence something as personal and immediate as a family meal. The student no longer viewed millet dosa merely as food she did not enjoy. She began to recognise it as part of a healthier and more sustainable food tradition preserved through her mother’s everyday choices.
Rediscovering Sunsets and Water Lilies
The same student also said that after returning home, she wanted to take time to watch the sunset and observe water lilies.
Her words reflected a renewed appreciation for simple natural experiences that are often overlooked during busy daily routines. The visit encouraged her not only to understand sustainability intellectually but also to observe the living world more attentively.
Watching a sunset or noticing water lilies may appear to be small acts, but they represent a deeper change in awareness — a willingness to slow down, observe and reconnect with nature.
“I Could Stay Here All Day Without Using My Phone”
Another girl student made a simple but revealing comment about her experience at the campus.
“I feel I could stay here the whole day without using my phone.” — Class 12 student at EPIC SS Padur
At a time when mobile phones occupy a significant part of young people’s daily lives, the student felt sufficiently engaged by the surroundings, demonstrations and conversations to remain there without checking her device.
Her reaction highlighted the value of experiential education. When students are given meaningful activities, direct contact with nature and opportunities to explore real systems, learning can hold their attention without depending on screens.
Praveen Rethinks His Balcony Garden
Another participant, Praveen, spoke about how the visit changed his plans for the limited space available at home.
Before visiting EPIC SS, he had imagined creating a balcony garden mainly with rose plants. After observing the sustainability ideas demonstrated at the campus, he said he would now consider using the same space to grow vegetables and herbs.
“Earlier, I thought of having a rose garden on my balcony. After visiting EPIC SS, I feel I should grow vegetables and herbs in that space.” — Praveen, programme participant
His reflection represented a shift from purely decorative gardening towards productive urban cultivation. A balcony filled with vegetables and herbs could become a source of fresh produce, practical learning and regular interaction with plants — showing that sustainable practices do not always require large areas of land.
Fossils Inspire Interest in Ariyalur
The fossil exhibits at EPIC SS generated considerable curiosity among the visitors.
One of the IIT Madras students was particularly excited by the fossils and said the experience had inspired him to plan a visit to Ariyalur, a region known for its geological and fossil heritage.
What began as an observation during the EPIC SS visit developed into an interest in visiting a significant geological region and learning more about fossils, Earth’s history and ancient life. The moment also demonstrated that the experience was meaningful not only for school students but also for research-oriented visitors.
Understanding Solar Energy Through a Live Installation
One of the sessions took place around the solar installation at EPIC SS Padur.
Instead of learning about renewable energy only through diagrams or textbook descriptions, the students were able to observe solar panels in a practical setting and understand how sunlight could be converted into usable energy.
Biology Lessons Beyond the Classroom
The outgoing Class 12 biology students were an integral part of the group visit, making many of the activities especially relevant to their academic background.
Their school curriculum had already introduced them to areas such as plant biology, ecosystems, nutrition, environmental science and conservation. At EPIC SS, these themes were presented as connected parts of everyday life rather than isolated textbook chapters.
This form of experiential learning can help students retain concepts more effectively because they can associate them with things they have seen, touched and discussed directly.
Learning Together Under the Trees
Participants gathered around different installations and demonstrations, listened to explanations and asked questions. The surrounding vegetation became part of the learning experience rather than simply serving as a background.
Students also shared food and refreshments at tables arranged beneath the trees. Reusable bottles and food containers visible during the gathering reflected the practical, low-waste character of the event.
These informal moments gave participants time to discuss what they had observed and consider how the ideas could be applied in their homes, schools and communities.
Families Join the Sustainability Experience
Four families participated alongside the student groups, making the experience intergenerational. Children, parents, school students, teachers and researchers explored the campus together — because sustainable living ultimately depends on decisions made within households and communities.
Food choices, gardening, waste reduction, water use, energy conservation and respect for biodiversity cannot remain confined to academic discussions. They become meaningful when families understand and adopt them in daily life.
Small Reflections, Significant Changes
A student who once disliked millet dosas decided the first thing she would do after returning home was thank her mother.
The same student wanted to spend more time watching the sunset and observing water lilies.
Another student felt she could remain at EPIC SS throughout the day without using her mobile phone.
Praveen reconsidered his balcony rose garden and decided to grow vegetables and herbs instead.
An IIT Madras student became interested in planning a visit to Ariyalur after seeing the fossil exhibits.
Individually, these may appear to be small decisions. Together, they show how the programme changed the way participants viewed food, space, technology, nature and learning.
Making Sustainability Personal
The EPIC SS experience demonstrated that sustainability education becomes effective when it is made personal.
Instead of presenting sustainability only through definitions, statistics or warnings, the visit connected it with familiar aspects of everyday life: a mother preparing ragi dosa, a balcony at home, a mobile phone, a sunset, a water lily and curiosity about a fossil.
These connections transformed broad environmental ideas into actions the participants could understand and carry forward. The visit did not merely tell students that sustainable living was important. It allowed them to experience why it mattered.
A Memorable Experience at EPIC SS Padur
The visit concluded with participants coming together for a group photograph at the EPIC SS campus.
For the outgoing biology students, the programme created an opportunity to connect years of classroom learning with practical observations before completing their school education. For the teachers, it demonstrated the value of environmental education conducted beyond the classroom. For the IIT Madras students, it generated new areas of curiosity and interest. For the participating families, it presented practical ideas that could be introduced into everyday life.
EPIC SS Padur continues to function as a space where students, families, educators, researchers and communities can encounter practical sustainable solutions through direct observation, interaction and experience.
Plan a visit or learn more about programmes at EPIC SS Padur.
Visit epicpadur.inRelated on MyOMR: EPIC Eco Park seminar on organic farming & soft skills (2024)
