Taking science to people and people to science

Ahmedabad, 31 July 2013

Community Science Centres plays a significant role in taking science to people and people to science. They are the resource centre for both rural and urban areas and Connecting knowledge with social change – said Shri S, J, Haider, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat.

Inaugurating a two day orientation programme on Community Science Centres (CSC) in Gujarat, Shri Haider remarked that the Community Science Centre should be the resource centre for on the latest ideas and innovations changing the way students learn. The concept of Community Science Centre was the visionary effort of Dr. Vikram A Sarabhai and Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST) has established 18 in the state is the first and unique in the country.

He informed that the Gujarat is the first state and the only state in the country to promote and popularize science and technology in the society in an optimum manner with such a coordinated manner. It is a unique programme in the country with Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) Model for science communication at grass-root level

GUJCOST has established 18 CSCs in different districts for science popularization among the society to create scientific awareness, creating scientific inquiry and eagerness for use of science in daily life. In addition CSCs, GUJCOST has 2000 School Science Clubs in different districts to have a coordinated many scientific modules and outreach activities throughout the year.

Shri Haider announced that from this year, each District level CSC will receive an amount of Rs.7.50 lakh and each Regional level CSC will receive Rs.10.00 lakh as annual grant from GUJCOST for their programmes and activities.

The two day orientation programme was mentored by Prof. Arunbhai Dave, Former Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapitha and Managing Director, Lok Bharati, Sanosara, Dr. V. B. Kamble, Former Advisor to Ministry of Science & Technology and Former Director, Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi. Shri Akshay K Saxena, Mission Director, Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, Prof. Anamik Shah, Distinguish Scientist & Head, Chemistry Department, Saurashtra University, Dr. Gijubhai Bharad, Eminent Mathematician, Junagadh, Dr. Anil K Roy, Professor in Information and Communication Technology, DAIICT, Gandhinagar, Shri Jaydev Dvivedi, DST and Dr. Narottam Sahoo, Advisor, GUJCOST as members of the expert committee for the CSC activities.

The expert committee has suggested for uniform activities on the common theme and targeting to a larger community members round the year. The members also advised for preparing a year-long activity plan and implementing the same with informal science learning manner.

In order to monitor the programme and its impact in the society, there would be quarterly review meeting of the CSCs activities.

The GUJCOST is coming up with a definite plan to open Taluka Level Community Science Center to provide rich and social environment for learning and inculcating scientific temperament at large.

About 50 CSC Coordinators and Science Communicators attended the two-day programme and get an orientation for the new activities and outreach programmes for the coming year.