SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 3: Department of Management Studies of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has launched an ambitious project of inculcating scientific temperament among students, especially among tribal communities and teachers.
A three-member team of the Department of Management Studies (DMS) under Assistant Professor Rashmi Singh kick-started the project at Adivasi School Bagdaha in Baghmara block, around 35 km away from the district headquarters, by organizing a science exhibition, scientific Melas, Nukkad Natak and game-based information material and audio-visual clips.
Associate professor Niladri Das and a research scholar were other members of the team.
“We have also given examples of Aeroplanes and Robots while explaining about technology,” said Prof Rashmi Singh. She added that the team is satisfied to know that the students had a lot of curiosity to understand the internal mechanism of these things.
The project has been sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC).
Prof Niladri Das and her team during the workshop explained the science in day-to-day life like how shadows are formed, what are resources required for them and the relevance of numbers in the life of students.
“We discussed rainwater harvesting and its significance in water conservation. The participating students showed keen interest in the entire deliberations”, she said.
Further explaining the relevance of the project, Prof Rashmi Singh said “This is an effort to educate and encourage young school students and teachers to understand the relevance of science and technology in today’s world through workshops and interactive sessions.”
“The educational sector has been significantly affected due to the lockdown,” said Prof Singh adding that according to the UNESCO report, it has affected approximately 32 crores students’ education in India.
She said the shutting down of schools and the decision to shift the traditional classrooms to digital classrooms has created learning inequality among students. Though educational institutions are trying hard to impart high-end quality education to the students through digital classrooms, they have failed to achieve much success.
“The Indian government is taking initiatives through various schemes which are designed specifically for the vulnerable and deprived communities to revive their interest in education,” said Prof Rashmi.
“All of this has motivated us to educate and encourage young school students and teachers to understand the relevance of science and technology in today’s world through workshops, activity stalls, Melas and exhibitions,” she added. She has been motivating around 2100 students through the project.
