GUWAHATI, June 25 - Participation in science camps has resulted in higher enrolment of students in basic science streams � from 17 lakh in 2010-11 to 40 lakh in 2014-15 in the country, said acclaimed scientist and science communicator Dr Papiya S Nandy.
Formerly with Jadavpur University and Director, Jagadish Bose National Science Talent Search, Dr Nandy was addressing a gathering at the two-day national science workshop organised by Department of Science and Technology (DST) under Union Ministry of Science and Technology under its flagship INSPIRE programme at University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM) today.
�With my experience as convenor, facilitator and mentor in more than 40 science camps, I have noticed that over the years the INSPIRE programme has made science and its application a movement. More students have opted for scientific research for their career and parents have become aware and are encouraging their children to pursue a career in science,� she added.
The consensus view by top scientists from across India who gathered at USTM was that activities of DST through the unique INSPIRE programme had been able to bring major transformation in the Indian Science sector, including creation of scientific awareness among students from an early stage, attracting talents, fostering creativity, and motivating and promoting research career.
About 100 nationally and internationally acclaimed scientists from all over India are participating in the �Group Monitoring Workshop for Inspire Internship Science Coordinators� which has been organised by USTM for DST.
This is the first time the event is being held in North East in a bid to attract and encourage school students to develop scientific temperament under its flagship programme �INSPIRE Internship Science Camp.�
Addressing the inaugural session of the workshop, Dr Umesh Kumar Sharma, Scientist (E) DST said, �This is a platform where we discuss thoroughly from the planning stage to implementation. Our North East component was not that effective like the ones in Tamil Nadu or Kerala. Therefore, we have taken it seriously for the Northeastern region to inspire more students towards science,� he said.
Mahbubul Hoque, Chancellor, USTM, expressed his gratefulness to DST for choosing the NE region for the first time to hold the national congregation.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Pratibha Jolly, Senior Scientist and Programme Coordinator, Miranda House, University of Delhi said that the DST Internship Science Camp had been effective in motivating young minds towards scientific study and research.
�We are getting very positive response from the student community. North East is an important part and I hope for more young talents from this region to cultivate science as their career�, she added.
Dr Amitabha Roy, Scientist(F) DST, Dr Sudha Kappalli from Central University of Kerala, and Dr Amita Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, among others, spoke at the workshop.
Launched in December 2008, the basic objective of INSPIRE is to communicate to the youth of the country the excitements of creative pursuit of science and attract talent to the study of science at an early stage and build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding Science & Technology system and Research & Development base.
