Science on the move

The discovery of The Raman Effect by the renowned Indian scientist Chandrashekhar Venkata Raman is celebrated each year on February 28. On the eve of this year’s National Science Day, Young Hans tells the story of a few experienced teachers who’ve come together to help children look at science the Raman way.

Science is not only a part of everyday existence, but more importantly is the base of the Indian education system. The subject is imparted through several books, experiments and methodologies. But how many principles of science can be verified by a student in real life? How many of the laws spring to life from the textbook?

Several educationists believe that the number of schools actually imparting useful science lessons is dwindling by the day. ractical lessons, they stress, help students understand the principles behind the experiments and lessons. Supported by Tech Mahindra Foundation, the NGO called SAHAYATA TRUST was started in 2011 by ten teachers, who reach out to different government and private schools every week with equipment loaded in a bus called “The Mobile Science Laboratory (MSL)” to impart practical science lessons to children.

“I believe science is a subject that has to be taught practically. Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, an experiment is worth a thousand pages of study”, says B. Satyanand, one of the teachers who began the initiative. “We are trying to develop and strengthen the concepts of science in children apart from helping students understand the importance of science in the real world. This style of learning helps in critical and quantitative thinking” says MA Lateef Atear, retired physics professor and founder of the Mobile Science Project Laboratory.

The NGO has covered over 190 schools and 3,40,430 students in a span of four years. The initiative reaches out to not only schools of Hyderabad but also travels to different states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal, Orissa and Kerala. The mobile science laboratory carries all the required equipment to conduct over 350 different science experiments.

Satyanand, who teaches physics says, “Not only have students embraced the practical methodology but teachers too prefer our style. We have already trained more than 400 government teachers this academic year through workshops conducted by different District Education Officers(DEO) of Telangana. The only thing we expect in return is that students learn concepts with clarity and do not neglect science as it is of the utmost importance.”

He adds that students who intend to pick a career in science have numerous opportunities but that they have to master the subject in order to excel in their career. “As per the report submitted by the National Knowledge Commission to the Prime Minster of India, maths and science education in India is rapidly losing importance. Hence we are trying our best to give students a better understanding of science through practical knowledge” says Satyanand. Usage of scientific apparatus and equipment will strengthen their knowledge and make learning fun, he adds.

We are trying to develop and strengthen the concepts of science in children apart from helping them understand the importance of science in the real world. This style of learning helps in critical and quantitative thinking - MA Lateef Atear

By:BHAGYA SHREE KOTTOORI