Scientists Students Interaction Programme (SSIP)

 


Background

In order to improve the quality of education in the State especially in rural areas, it is felt necessary to introduce some effective programme in schools and colleges. This would help in creating awareness in the students and improve their career to undertake science as profession. Some of the programmes have been already under implementation by Government of Karnataka. Inspired by the successful programmes like "Mahithi Sindhu" and the extension lecture programme of Indian Institute of Science, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology has taken a decision to conduct programmes of interaction of students with scientists in the schools and colleges throughout the state. This programme is called the Scientists Students interaction Programme (SSIP).

This programme was experimented on one occasion and it was successful. The students were excited to be with the scientists and participated actively by posing a large number of questions. It is felt that this is one of the way of popularising science and technology in many schools in the State as well as ignite the curiosity of Students. This will also motivate the students to go in for basic science education.

Objectives of SSIP

  • To Promote active involvement of students and teachers in scientific activity.

  • To encourage students to ask questions and doubts in many areas of science and promote their effective participation.

  • To enable students to know about the latest developments in the fields of science and technology.

Methodology

The programme will have students as participants from several schools/colleges and high schools and pre-university colleges. Major participants will be from Mahithi Sindhu schools. Several resource persons from different disciplines will form the panel. They will be chosen from research institutions like Indian Institute of Science, national laboratories, leading educational institutions etc. In order to break the ice, there may be short presentation by experts. After this, interaction will begin with questions from students. During this discussion students can ask questions and clarify their doubts.

The programme will be bilingual in both Kannada and English. The entire duration will be 3 - 4 hours. Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology shall organize this programme. Directorate of State Education Research and Training takes the responsibility for selecting and bringing the students for the programme and the nodal agency to organize this programme. They will be assisted by the District Institution for Education at the district level.

Programmes conducted during 2004 -2005

The council has so far conducted 16 SSIP programmes in different districts of Karnataka. During the year 2004-2005, five programmes were conducted and the details are as below:

The Scientists Students Interaction Programme was organized by the Council in Sullia, Dakshina Kannada district, on 6th August 2004. The programme was attended by over 200 students. Shri K. Venkatramana Gowda, President, Kurungi Venkatramana Gowda College of Engineering and Technology, Sullia inaugurated and presided over the function. Prof. D. K. Subramanian, Secretary, Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology was the chief guest.

The Scientists Students Interaction Programme was organized by the Council was involving Prof. C. N. R. Rao and the high school students organized on 24th January 2005 was attended by nearly 1000 students belonging to 25 high schools in Bangalore. The programme was also attended by the Honourable Minister for Science and Technology Sri Basavaraj Horatti. Prof. M. K. Surappa welcomed the gathering followed by a lecture by Prof. C. N. R. Rao on "Science Learning". Later Prof. Indumati Rao of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Science and Research demonstrated CD-ROM developed by the centre on learning science on various subjected. The programme was also attended by Prof. Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy Department of Physics, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, who has been awarded UNESCO Kalinga Prize for Popularization of Science 2003. The Directorate of Science Education Research and Training also supported the programme.

Scientists and Students Interaction Programme at Forestry College, Ponnampet: An interaction programme was organized by the council on 25th February 2005 at College of Forestry, Ponnampet, Coorg district. The programme was attended by nearly 150 students of Mahithi Sindhu schools of Coorg district. The programme was inaugurated by Shri K. N. Chengappa, Chairman, Kodagu Model Forest Trust and presided by Prof. C. S. P. Patil, Director of Instruction, College of Forestry, Ponnampet. Dr. S.G. Sreekanteswara Swamy spoke about the objectives of the SSIP programme and Mrs. Pratima Rao spoke about Mahithi Sindhu Schools in Karnataka and their importance. The scientists attended were Dr. Prasad Bothla, SSO, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Dr. P. Nagaraja, Reader, Dept of Chemistry, Mysore University, Mysore; Dr. S. V Narasimhan, Physician, Virajpet, Smt. Ramamani, Shri Anand, Shri Natarajan, from Coorg Institute of Technology, Ponnampet.

A student posing a question to the scientists

 

A gathering at a Scientist-Students programme in Ponnampet, 2005

Popular Science Lectures at Indian Institute of Science: A series of 3 lectures was organized on 28th February 2005 inviting about 50 students from high schools of Bangalore in Choksi hall, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The programme was inaugurated by Prof. K. J. Rao and Prof. M. K. Surappa, Secretary, KSCST, presided over the function. Prof. K. J. Rao spoke about the "A hole in the Ozone layer" and explained the environmental disaster eminating from it. He also explained the reasons for such a phenomenon. Prof. Surappa spoke about the importance of propagating scientific temper among students and the general public. Later Prof. H. L. Bhat of Department of Physics spoke about Photo-Electric effect, one of the important inventions in the beginning of the last century. Finally Prof. Uday Bhaskar of Raman Research Institute spoke about the invisible universe and radio astronomy.

Programme on Observational Astronomy: A programme was held at Pilikula, Sullia taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, on observational astronomy.

Prof. C. N. R. Rao interacted with nearly 500 high school students in and around Mysore on 5th November 2005 in Mysore. Later Prof. Indumati Rao of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Science and Research demonstrated CD-ROM developed by the centre on learning science on various subjects. Central Food Technological Research Institute, The Directorate of Science Education Research and Training, and Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi also supported the programme.

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Recent Programmes

  1. The Scientists Students Interaction Programme was organized by the Council involving Prof. C. N. R. Rao, FRS, National Research Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Council for Advanced Scientific Research and the high school students in Dharwar on Friday, September 15, 2006. The venue of the programme was at Srujana Auditorium, Karnataka Science College Campus, Dharwad. The programme started at 10.30 AM. Prof. C. N. R. Rao delivered a lecture on "Science Learning" in Kannada. Later Prof. Indumati Rao of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Science and Research demonstrate CD-ROM developed by the centre on learning science on various subjects. Hon'ble Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Sri. Basavaraj Horatti, Incharge Vice Chancellor of Karnataka University, Dharwad Dr. Murigeppa and others were present during the function. Karnataka University, Dharwad and The Directorate of Science Education Research and Training supported this programme.

List of Scientists Students Interaction program conducted

Sl.
No.

Date

Venue

Number of schools participated

Number of Students attended

Districts covered

1.

24.06.2002

Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysore

45

144

Mysore and Chamarajnagar

2.

27.08.2002

B. V. B. College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli

34

92

Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri

3.

28.08.2002

Bapuji college of Engineering & Technology, Davanagere

66

192

Davanagere Chitradurga

4.

14.09.2002

Sri Siddartha Institute of Technology, Tumkur

51

199

Tumkur

5.

26.10.2002

Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal

45

229

Udupi, Dakshina Kannada

6.

30.12.2002

Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan

45

164

Hassan

7.

03.03.2003

M.N Technical Institute,, Kammagondanahalli, Bangalore

9

195

Bangalore urban and Rural

8.

15.07.2003

J N National College of Engineering, Shimoga

33

123

Shimoga

9.

29.08.2003

Golden Valley Institute of Technology, Kolar

59

206

Kolar

10.

11.09.2003

Vijayanagar Engineering College, Bellary

53

184

Bellary

11.

27.10.2003

KLEs Gogte Institute of Technology, Belgaum

32

115

Belgaum

12.

22.11.2003

PDA College of Engineering, Gulbarga

21

190

Gulbarga

13.

27.12.2003

PG Halagatti College of Engineering and Technology, Bijapur

19

190

Bijapur

14.

17.01.2004

SJM Engineering College, Chitradurga

27

195

Chitradurga

15.

24.02.2004

Basaveshwara College of Engineering, Bagalkot

29

167

Bagalkot

16.

29.02.2004

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama, DSCST, Dakshikannada, Mangalore

30

150

Dakshina Kannada

17.

06.08.2004

Pilikula Nisarga Dhama, DSCST, Dakshikannada, Mangalore

30

150

Dakshina Kannada

18.

24-01-2005

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

45

900

Bangalore

19.

24.02.2005

College of Forestry, Ponnampet

24

150

Kodagu

20.

28-02-2005

Chowksi Hall, IISc, Bangalore

15

200

Bangalore Urban

21.

28-02-2005

Pilikula, Dakshina Kannada

20

200

Dakshina Kannada

22. 05-11-2005 CFTRI, Mysore

35

800

Mysore district
23. 15-09-2006 Srujana Auditorium, Dhawad

63

700

Dharwad district

 

 
 
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