Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Children Science Festival‘ organized by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) in Jammu on Monday.
Speaking on occasion, Dr Singh narrated how the Jigyasa programme is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and the social responsibility of scientific community and institutions. Jigyasa is a student-scientist connect programme implemented by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
The minister applauded the efforts of CSIR-IIIM for organizing such outreach activities for students from schools and colleges. He said that such activities help increase scientific aptitude and inculcates the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in young minds. He also distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions organized during the Children Science Festival.
Dr Singh said India’s first virtual science lab for children under CSIR Jigyasa programme was launched, which built a strong connect between students and scientists with scientists across the country. Further, the main objective of establishing the virtual lab was to provide quality research exposure and innovative pedagogy for school students based on an online interactive medium. He said the new facility will immensely benefit students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and government schools of various states boards and will help in catching them young.
More than 350 students from about 55 schools under the government of J&K, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodya Vidyalayas, Army Public Schools, Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Schools, etc from various districts of Jammu region showcased their talent in various competitions such as science models under themes: Health & wellness; Water conservation; Waste management; Save mother Earth), science and current affairs quiz competition, poster competition on ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and slogan writing competition on ‘Space Mission of India’. Students of Seva Bharti, an NGO that provides free education and vocational training to children from economically weaker sections of society. These students displayed various products developed under the ‘Waste to Wealth’ theme.
