Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Science fairs need more focus: expert

PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Budding scientists: A student explaining an exhibit at the third National Science Fair organised in Hyderabad on Monday. —

HYDERABAD: The government should promote science fairs rather than science exhibitions as the latter promote scientific temperament among students and help in harvesting hybrid ideas, said Qazi Siraj Azher, Head of Pathology, Hurley Medical Centre in Flint, USA, on Monday.

There is a clear distinction between the two, he pointed out to the gathering that comprised Muslim students and their teachers from various parts of India. While a science exhibition is a ‘show-and-tell’ phenomena where participants build models copying them from text book(s), a science fair, on the other hand, has innovative models that are developed based on scientific investigation and research.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of third national science fair on ‘International exposure of science fairs to meet global challenges and their role in human welfare’ held in the city on Monday.

As many as 18 schools from various parts of South India, including a madrasa from Bijapur participated in the ‘science fair’ that was aimed at bringing scientific awareness among Muslim children.

Students were also advised to identify critical areas for each of the global challenges – global warming, energy demands ad depletion of natural resources – and focus on their solutions.

Editor of Urdu daily Siasat Zahid Ali Khan spoke on the need for guiding Muslim children in their career so that “they can a step forward and ensure a bright future for themselves.” They were also called upon to fill vacancies in civil services and other scientific posts meant for them.

The event was organised by Science Fair Academy, Hyderabad and AP State Council of Science and Technology.

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