GUWAHATI, Feb 5 - The Regional Science Centre, Guwahati, one of the constituent units of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, will organise the second Innovation Festival at its campus on February 6 and 7. The first Innovation Festival was organised last year.
Apart from Assam, participants from other North-Eastern States will also take part in the festival. The participants comprise innovators, artists, performers, craftsmen and others who will showcase their innovative pursuits to encourage the young generation to think out of the box.
�Basically, this Innovation Festival will provide a common platform to people working in different fields such as innovators, artists, performers, crafters, science demonstrators, etc., in showcasing their creativity,� a statement from the RSC said.
The Innovation Festival will have sections like innovators, artisans, do-it-yourselves, challenge corner, etc. Around 50 innovators, including artisans and other experts from different parts of the North-Eastern States have already confirmed their participation with their machines and unique creations. Innovators will display their products with demonstrations.
In the artisans section, experts from different fields like art, craft, music, pottery, bell metal, sholapith, sculpture, terracotta, etc., will showcase their creative endeavours. The artisans will exhibit their unique creations connected with cultural heritage with live demonstrations for visitors.
In the do-it-yourselves section, many hands-on-activities will be conducted, especially for school students. As part of the do-it-yourselves corner, �Make & Take� activities are expected to attract students and families. In the �Make & Take� activity, visitors will be allowed to make some science kits by using readily available material provided to them. After making the specific kits, they will be allowed to take it with them.
In the challenge corner, some interesting science-based challenges will be given to individuals, families and others who will visit the festival. The best participants in the challenge corner will be awarded prizes.
Prof Gautam Biswas, Director, IIT, Guwahati, will be present as the chief guest and inaugurate the Innovation Festival at 11 am on February 6. Dr Anil Kumar Goswami, former principal, Cotton College, will preside over the inaugural function.
It was on the recommendation of the National Innovation Council and the support by the Ministry of Culture that the NCSM set up five Innovation Spaces in 2014 to promote innovation among young students. The Innovation Hub of the RSC, Guwahati, was inaugurated on February 4, 2014, and has about 125 members from different schools and colleges.