Science Congress: Encouraging research attitude among school students
December
19, 2010
The science fraternity is gearing up for the 18th National Children Science Congress which is to be held in Chennai (for the second time) at Vels University from December 27 to 31.
As many as 650 children and 300 teachers from all over the country will participate in this five-day programme supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and organised by the Tamil Nadu Science Forum, Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology and Vels University.
Children in the age-group of 10 to 17 will present their research works on this year's theme – ‘Land resources - use for prosperity and save for posterity' during the congress. The children were to work on an issue related to the topic and present their feasible research – explaining the problem and solution at the Congress.
“Some of the researches presented at the Congress in the past have been put to use,” says Dr. S. Vincent, Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. “The objective of the Congress is to encourage research attitude among students. The programme has reached about two lakh participants,” says Mr. Vincent.
“We wish to have a follow-up after the Congress and support students in further research, thereby developing a technology - a technology of application,” he adds.
Ramalingam, organising secretary, Tamil Nadu Science Forum, explains the itinerary of the event. “During the event, the students will present their papers in 10 parallel sessions, judged by a panel of scientists.
There will also be learning activities in maths, physics and other areas of science conducted by research personnel simultaneously. Seminars, poster/model exhibition of the students' research, workshop for teachers and cultural programmes will also be organised,” he says.
Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Mylswamy Annadurai and representatives from UNESCO will interact with the student-scientists in the ‘Meet the Scientists' programme.
More than 75 research and science establishments will put up stalls and explain their function and contribution to the world of science. “The idea is to expose children to various avenues of science,” Mr. Ramalingam adds. It is also being planned to take batches of children to any of the scientific establishments to have a first-hand experience of their operation.
Students will bring soil from their hometown to be exhibited at the venue. A tree planting ceremony will also be held with the soil they bring. The exhibitions are open for public view.
Mr. Ramalingam says that the programme is also aimed at focusing the untapped talent among the rural children. There is more rural participation, he says.
Scholarship programme
During the programme, the students will be sensitised on the INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) programme sponsored and managed by the Department of Science & Technology for attraction of talent to science. It is a scholarship programme offered to aspiring scientists identified at the school level. As many as 10,000 students from Tamil Nadu received the scholarship last year, says Mr. Vincent.
Of the 650 students, who are participating in the Children Congress, 80 will be selected for the National Science Congress to be held in SRM University on January 3, 2011. The event will see the participation of scientists and Nobel laureates.
நன்றி: The Hindu
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