Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education organises demos, experiments

For Ashutosh Sistla, a class VI student of Atomic Energy Central School (AECS)-II, seeing an actual brain on display was the most "fascinating" aspect of the open house programme organised by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Mankhurd, on Friday.

"You only get to learn about the human brain in textbooks. But seeing an actual brain and also getting to touch it is the most fascinating thing I've done here," said Sistla.

To spark an interest in science and maths in students, and tell them that these subjects can be a lot of fun, HBCSE held an open house programme for students and teachers, featuring various activities to celebrate National Science Day today.

Saying that the current curriculum and exam-oriented system was making students lose interest in science, professor HC Pradhan, centre director, HBCSE, said that the primary aim was to attract and expose students to various methods of science. "The idea is to challenge students, make them ask questions, make guesses and seek answers," he said.

Demonstrations at the integrated science lab ranged from actual displays of an eye, liver, kidney, brain and skeleton, to simple experiments on evaporation and condensation.

While demonstrations at the physics lab attempted to clear the fundamentals, the chemistry lab tried to create a visual impact. "The idea is to make concepts appealing since chemistry is otherwise perceived as an abstract and boring subject," said Swapna Narvekar, faculty at HBCSE.

While one experiment was on making fingerprints visible, in another, baking soda, glycerine and vinegar were used to explain reactions by showing a volcanic eruption. "We saw different experiments, which we usually don't get to do," said Sonal Khade, a student of Nutan Vidyamandir.

At the maths lab too, the focus was on hands-on exercises, through puzzles. "I don't get to do such activities as part of our daily learning," said Aditya Narvekar, a class 4 student of Abhinav Gyanmandir.

A short film on the 26/11 attacks tried to show how science and society could work together harmoniously.

Mihika Basu/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication