The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tryst with science and technology

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Thursday, Feb 07, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tryst with science and technology

T.S. Shankar

Chennai Science Festival 2008 inaugurated

— Photo: N. Sridharan

Interesting facts: An Army personnel shows a light machine gun to students at the Chennai Science Festival - 2008 on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: It was an educational tour with a difference for the select city school students when they milled the planetarium campus on Wednesday for a hands-on experience in science and technology. From simple concepts to emerging trends in nanotechnology, biotechnology and space technology, the students got a peep into the future.

From the simple functioning of a magnet to the latest in missile technology, the children were encouraged to explore the science behind it all. Of the total 122 stalls in various disciplines, robotics, weight on moon, astronomical wonders, physics of weapons, and ‘universe and you’ provided a rare visual treat.

“Our aim is to create greater awareness among the younger generation and take the benefits of science and technology to as many people as possible on the impact of science in everyday life,” was how V. Varaprasada Rao, Vice-Chairman of Science City, described the objectives of the five-day Chennai Science Festival 2008. The festival was inaugurated by State Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy on Wednesday.

Anna University, the Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, University of Madras, Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Cancer Institute, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre and the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology have joined hands with Science City to showcase the applications of science and technology to the common man.

A first

“It is for the first time that such a mega science festival has been organised with the prime objective of providing the youths, who are the future torchbearers of the nation, to see for themselves the scientific advancements made and the future trends in science and technology, which may have a direct bearing in their changing lifestyle,” said K. Sankaran, coordinator of the Chennai Science Festival.

Entry is free for school and college students on producing their identity cards. Others have to pay an entry fee of Rs. 5 to visit the festival. The timings of the science exhibition is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Entertainment programmes such as puppetry, magic show, dance and drama, all focussing on scientific temper and themes, would be brought out by students of various schools and colleges.

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