We had just managed to get our exhibition ready and people were entering. The first two looked surprisingly like military officers. We were a bit nervous thinking “don’t tell us they are gonna ask us to take the whole thing down – not after this!” They asked about the Banana Bacteria, the strain and smelt. They smiled and proceeded to look at Stress-o-stat and Nanomagnetic Plants.

Our room was quite lit, and we had originally asked for a dark space, as our Dark Reader from Clare Chemical Research gives the most magnificent display under these conditions. We figured we could use a black light in addition to fire up the proteins. People began to pour in, first bus loads of school children of all ages. Later, the audience became more varied. 

Two students from IIT Bombay, Srishti Malpath and Shivanjali Yadav, helped explain our exhibits to the public. At the door, people were let in at intervals, but overcrowding soon became a problem and we were told to halt all explanation of works.



By the end of the day, and after kettles of coffee consumed, we were exhausted. A dinner reservation later that evening would push our already 30 hours awakening into 36.