MIRZA, Feb 8 - Kamrup district Arjyabhatta Science Centre (ASC) organised a district-level science-based competition among students on development of science-based models, extempore speech and poster-drawing at the Jawaharlal Nehru College at Boko recently with a day-long programme.
The programme was sponsored by the Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) under the State Department of Science and Technology.
Over 100 students from different schools pertaining to 14 Blocks of Kamrup district participated in the district-level competition.
In the inaugural programme, the Vice Principal of Boko Jawaharlal Nehru College Rumita Phukan said that the Arjyabhatta Science Centre project of ASTEC had been doing a commendable job in fostering a scientific temperament among the upcoming students.
The programme will have far-reaching consequences in producing scientists from Assam. She added that importance of science-based research was not given much weightage until 1986, but thereafter got new shape under the initiative of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The District Coordinator of Arjyabhatta Science Centre of Kamrup district Ranjit Baishya said that the Centre is a big network of science education and research and urged the Block coordinators and students to concentrate on developing quality science-based models so that they could claim pride of place in the state-level competitions.
In the competition, Kunal Boro of Boko Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre secured first place in the poster-drawing competition on the topic, �Impact of Plastic Pollution�. Similarly, Shirin Nasrina Islam of Goroimari Arjyabhatta Science Centre bagged the second spot while Bhumika Das of Bihdia-Jajikona Block and Lahin Mohd Masum of Chamaria Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre got the consolation prize.
In the extempore speech competition, Manjit Adhikari of Boko Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre secured first prize while Hiyashree Pathak of Rangia Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre bagged the second spot. Similarly, Shahil Mohd Saberin of Kamalpur Block and Safikul Ali of Chamaria Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre got the consolation prize.
In the science model competition, Mrinmoy Kalita, Lahin Mohd Masum and Arif Sarowar Almasud of Chamaria Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre secured the first position while Md Rahmatulla and Wasim Akram jointly secured the second rank. The consolation prize went to Rismen Boro of Bihdia Jajikona Block and Jehirul Islam, Ariful Hoque and Safiqur Rahaman of Hajo Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre.
Addressing the gathering at the valedictory function as the chief guest, Dr Guneswar Saharia, Principal of Hekera Higher Secondary School urged the students to replace the traditional science models and give importance on development of innovative models which could have economic and social benefits.
He also asked the students to develop models on their own. The contesting students must have a very clear concept in their minds so that they can explain every detail, including the guiding principles of making the science models.
Mobaraque Hussain, Block Coordinator of Rampur Block Arjyabhatta Science Centre felt the performance by the students in model-making, extempore speech and poster-drawing competitions was not upto the mark and therefore urged the students to upgrade their performance so that they could win prizes in the state- level competitions. Nayanjyoti Bairagi of Rangiya Arjyabhatta Science Centre also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Saharia, Monoj Kumar Das and Tanushree Sarma acted as judges for the models while Dipankar Sarma, Nayanjyoti Das and Purobi Rabha judged the extempore speech competition while Dikshita Das, Papiya Bose and Abantika Bhagawati judged the science-based poster-drawing contest.
Ranjit Baishya subsequently offered the vote of thanks.
