Center for Astroparticle Physics and Space Science (CAPSS)
(Participation of Youth in Real Time/Field Observations for the Benefit of Education)
One of the primary motivations of Acharya Sir Jagadish Chandra behind
the founding of Bose Institute was the widest possible dissemination of
scientific knowledge. In his inaugural address on November 30, 1917,
dedicating the institute to the Nation, he said, "I have sought permanently
to associate the advancement of knowledge with the widest possible civic
and public diffusion of it, and this without any academic limitations,
henceforth to all races and languages, to both men and women alike, and
for all time coming".
To honour this noble legacy, it is incumbent on all of us to try our utmost to spread scientific knowledge to the young students of the region who are not as fortunate as their counterparts in the bigger cities. Any research endeavour in the Eastern Himalayan region must also therefore include a component of an outreach programme to the school and college students of the area, exposing them to the ideas and practice of science. It can confidently be hoped that this would prove to be a valuable investment, if even a small fraction of these students could be inspired to pursue further studies in science and technology.
Total of 18 – 20 schools. 10 schools in Darjeeling town, distributed from Lebong to Jalapahar (so as to cover the entire altitude gradient from 4500 ft to 8000 ft), 2 schools in Ghoom (~ 8400 ft), 1 school in Sonada, 2 schools in Kurseong, 1 school in Mirik, 1 school in Bijonbari and 2 schools in Kalimpong.
Darjeeling provides a unique setting in the sense that the town
covers a very large altitude gradient, from the lowest point at
Lebong race course (about 4500 ft) to Jalapahar (about 8500 ft) and
Ghoom (about 8400 ft), a nearby suburb of Darjeeling. There are
several schools distributed over the entire area, many of which
offer science courses at the Secondary (Class X) and Higher
Secondary (Class XII) levels. We propose to interact with the
Principals and Science teachers of these schools, and help them
form science clubs at each school. To inspire the students towards
a possible career in science, it would be worthwhile to introduce
them to some simple but meaningful scientific project work. The
weather and climate monitoring at a local level is one such project,
which can be started without much problem. This would also provide
valuable data on the local variation of weather and the influence
of orography thereupon.
It is proposed to form science clubs at a number of schools in the region and train them to record local meteorological data. Regular meetings at a frequency of once a month would be organised at Mayapuri where these data would be recorded in a central database. (These data, properly verified, may then form valuable input for climate modelling studies.)
The participants would also be introduced to the equipments running at Mayapuri. On each occasion, a new low cost experiment dealing with everyday science will be demonstrated. Depending on the interest of the participants, some of them may also be inducted in the cosmic ray experiments, through training in microscopy.
Regular introductory level lectures on various scientific issues of importance to the region as well as topics of general scientific importance would be organised at the Centre, at a frequency of once every two months initially. The resident scientists at the Centre as well as senior scientists present at the Centre at the time would deliver these lectures. Efforts would be made to schedule the visits of senior scientists so that advantage of their presence can be taken for the purpose. There would be popular lectures organised by distinguished scientists (3-4 a year) who would be especially invited for the purpose.
The Department of Science & Technology, Government of India has sanctioned a project proposal along these lines for implementation at the Darjeeling campus of Bose Institute. The project, initially approved for three years, is the vanguard of the PROBE programme in the North East (NE-PROBE).
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