Jigyasa,
a student- scientist connect programme was officially launched in the national
capital today. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has joined
hands with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to implement this programme. The
focus is on connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student’s
classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based
learning.
Memorandum
of Understanding signing ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & technology,
Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Shri Prakash
Javadekar, Minister of Human Resource Development.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister for Science &
Technology, Dr Harshvardhan said, that the Jigyasa programme was inspired by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and “Scientific Social
Responsibility (SSR)” of scientific community and institutions. It is a historic
day when two ministries are collaborating on the Youth who are the future of
the nation. The day also coincides with the birthday of Shri Shyama Prasad
Mukherjee who is an inspirational figure and a role model for all Indians.
Speaking
on the occasion, Union Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Prakash
Javadekar said that “to inculcate scientific temper among the students we have
to make them aware about the impact of science on the society. Science has
played a very important role in changing our lives”. Thanking Dr Harshvardhan
and CSIR, Shri Javadekar further said that access to these premier institutions
is only the beginning. CSIR will also talent hunt among the visiting students
for furthering the cause of scientific development. The Minister also informed
that he will personally review the status periodically.
CSIR
has been contributing for several decades for socio-economic development in the
country. It has been through development and deployment of knowledge base focused
at Technology and Innovation. CSIR has also been playing a key role in human
resource development, in particular training of the young researchers through
Ph. D. programmes in diverse fields.
The
“JIGYASA” would inculcate the culture of inquisitiveness on one hand and
scientific temper on the other, amongst the school students and their teachers.
The Programme is expected to connect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 National
Laboratories of CSIR targeting 100,000 students and nearly 1000 teachers annually.
The
program will also enable the students and teachers to practically live the
theoretical concepts taught in science by visiting CSIR laboratories and by
participating in mini-science projects. The model of engagement includes:
·
Student
Residential Programmes;
·
Scientists
as Teachers and Teachers as Scientists;
·
Lab
specific activities / Onsite Experiments;
·
Visits
of Scientists to Schools/Outreach Programmes;
·
Science
and Maths Clubs;
·
Popular
Lecture Series/ demonstration programme at Schools;
·
Student
Apprenticeship Programmes;
·
Science
Exhibitions;
·
Projects
of National Children’s Science Congress;
·
Teacher
Workshops; and
·
Tinkering
Laboratories.
“JIGYASA”
is one of the major initiative taken up by CSIR at national level, during its
Platinum Jubilee Celebration Year. CSIR is widening and deepening its
Scientific Social Responsibility further with the programme.
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