CHENNAI : Science is like a pyramid built up by a large number of observations and theories, said M.S. Ananth, Director of Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. Building science is to build a body of knowledge, he told winners of Children's Science Academy Awards, who are participating in the winter science camp.

The four-day camp, inaugurated on Tuesday, will include lectures by scientists and field visits.

Science City set up an academy for children and instituted awards for students of classes IX, X and XI in 2000. Students from across the State submit theoretical projects in various disciplines and an expert committee of scientists evaluates and validates the theories. Three winners are chosen from each discipline of Physics, Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Social Science and Computer Science/Information Technology for cash prizes.

Instilling confidence in the 44 student-winners, he said theories were valid till proved wrong. Learning and teaching science followed a structure where a teacher is only a facilitator, who uncovers some portions of a subject. Students should collect data and document every observation. Then begins the incubation period where the brain tries to figure out what it has learned. Logical verification by experimentation completes the process. We missed the scientific renaissance in India that began with Galileo, he said.

Indians are intuitive people, who can solve problems but are unable to explain logically the method used to solve the problem. Being irreverent, asking questions, working out the method of solving the problem and reading biographies of scientists are ways to infuse a scientific mind.

He urged the students to enjoy their school and college days so that they can look back on them with a smile.

P. Iyamperumal, Executive Director of Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, and J. Devasenapathy, scientific officer, Science City, also spoke.

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