SCIENCE
EXPO THRILLS STUDENTS
The
Yadava College, Madurai organized DST sponsored Science Expo
cum Seminar from 12th July to 14th July 2010. Sixty schools
in around Madurai have participated and presented expo on different
subjects such as climate change, recycled energy, water remediation,
laser light application, environmental chemistry, medicinal
plants etc. The competition is held both for college and school
category. Two hundred exhibits were displayed in the expo. Thousands
of school and college students have visited this scientific
programme. Special seminars addressed by the experts from national
institutions were organized to motivate the students to get
into basic sciences.
Scientists and research scholars must work on projects and conduct
research to meet the needs in villages and local-specific problems
since, in most cases, the benefits of high-end research never
reached the poor and the rural populace, said Ravinder
Gaur, Scientist, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi,
Addressing a seminar after inaugurating a State-level exhibition
on basic sciences at Yadava College here on Monday, Dr. Kaur
said that his department provided adequate grants to research
projects that focused on developing rural areas in a scientific
manner. Highlighting the fact that drinking water of good quality
was scarcely available in rural areas in the country, he said
that researchers should work on the effect of fluorosis on people.
Speaking earlier Dr. S.Vincent, Member, Secretary, Tamil
Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST),
said that the State government had been concentrating on basic
sciences to a great extent at the higher education level. The
TNSCST would provide five student fellowships to the M.Phil.
Scholars of Madras University who work on projects such as impact
of global warming on health, agricultural production and animal
husbandry. The State Ministry of Higher Education had allocated
Rs. 1,600 crore for higher education. Tamil Nadu had a Gross
Enrolment Ratio of 17.5 per cent in higher education which was
higher than the national average of 12.5 per cent. The Government
had fixed a target to achieve 25 per cent by the year 2020.
Mr.Vincent asked the students taking part in the exhibition
not to replicate the models already designed but to innovate
and come up with something new with their own ideas.
Shri. K.P. Navaneethakrishnan, Secretary and Correspondent,
Yadava College, thanked the Department of Science and Technology
for supporting the event. S. Premalatha Panneerselvam, Secretary
and Correspondent, Mahatma School felicitated the function.
Dr.K.Gurumoorthy, DBT Task force, Coimbatore, Mr. Pandirajan
of District Science Centre, Tirunelvelly, Dr. Marimuthu, INSA
scientist, M.K.University, Madurai delivered motivating lectures
on current topics in science.
The District Collector of Madurai District, Mr.C.Kamaraj delivered
the valedictory address and presented the prizes to the winners
of the competition.
A. Padmanabhan, Principal (in-charge), and Dr. P.S. Navaraj,
Associate Professor in Zoology successfully co-ordinated and
meticulously organized this programme with support of management,
faculty and non-teaching members of the college.
