Date:19/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/19/stories/2006101921740400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

IISc. takes science to rural students

Staff Reporter

Over 250 students quiz scientists, environmentalists in Chickaballapur

FUN-FILLED EXERCISE: Children of various schools with environmentalist Yellappa Reddy and scientists from the Indian Institute of Science at an interaction organised by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Agastya Foundation at Chickaballapur on Wednesd ay. — Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

Bangalore: Will paralysis be cured if you eat white pigeons? Why do human beings, plants and animals grow vertically and not horizontally?

More than 250 students from schools in Chickaballapur had many more such questions for a panel of researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.).

Interaction

Organised by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Agastya Foundation on Wednesday, the interaction was a first of its kind, fun-filled exercise for students and the panel members. The panel consisted of A.N. Yellappa Reddy, environmentalist, professors Savithri, Murthy, Bhat, Hegde, S.V. Subramanyam, and Chief Medical Officer of IISc. Naganath.

Questions

Perhaps an indication of how much the syllabus tilts towards solar system or maybe a reflection of childhood fascination with the space, many questions centred on this subject.

So much so that, Prof. Murthy, a panel member, told the students at one point, "no more questions on solar system, please."

Media impact on the students was visible. One student, in a reference to reports that an unborn foetus was found in the womb of a newborn baby, asked the panel how it was possible.

Mr. Murthy, pointing to reporters covering the event, cautioned the students against believing all that the media reported.

He rubbished reports on seawater turning sweet on the shores of Mumbai.

The interaction session was part of Agastya Foundation's initiative to sensitise students in rural areas to the possibilities in science.

Laboratories

The foundation runs mobile laboratories that travel in districts to remote areas and conducts training for instructors in science education.

"Our strategy is to have maximum impact with minimum amount of intervention. The two modules we have of training and mobile laboratories together can make a difference," says Ramji Raghavan, founder of Agastya Foundation.

Session

The session began with hesitant students asking questions and ended with eager students who snatched the microphone to flood the panel members with their questions.