Kerala   

Children's talents put to test

The task entrusted to students during one of the annual Vigyanotsavam competitions conducted by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) was to observe how a candle glows.

After inspecting the process for a while, the children were asked to make their observations. While some reflected on the multi-coloured hues produced by the flame, a few others recalled how the wick of the candle hissed and crackled before sputtering into a flame.

Seemingly trivial, the observations clearly reveal the innate curiosity and eye for detail among children.

The observation and analytical skills of students were once again put to test at the two-day Children's Science Congress organised by the KSSP at the Vellayani Agricultural College, which concluded on Saturday.

The students were asked to identify a topic after their visit to various departments of the college and submit a project based on it. They were also divided into 14 groups with each group identifying itself with the name of a particular department such as agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, tissue culture and plant biotechnology.

"The congress is aimed at encouraging the research mentality in students," says Krishnankutty Nair, district committee member of the KSSP. The students will have to find a topic related to their study from the departments they visit. "The idea is to motivate children to help them learn by themselves," says Mr. Nair.

According to K. Harikrishnan Nair, dean, Kerala Agricultural University, the students are assisted by the teachers and scientists of the college in preparing their projects.

K. Pappootty, director, State Encyclopaedia Institute who inaugurated the congress on Friday urged students to cultivate a scientific temper in them by learning the subject.

Sangeeth Kurian

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