Eureka, it8217;s fun!

Did you know that Saturn is a gas giant? It is the most fascinating planet in the solar system,'' says 13-year-old Vipin Iyer, his eyes s...

Did you know that Saturn is a gas giant? It is the most fascinating planet in the solar system,8221; says 13-year-old Vipin Iyer, his eyes shining at the significance of this new-found discovery. For this Std. IX student of the S.V. Union High school, the past week has been full of such interesting scientific discoveries. As indeed it has been for the 20-odd children who have been part of the fourth batch of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics8217; IUCAA School Students8217; Summer Programme.

The children romp through the newly-inaugurated science park at IUCAA, stopping to look at a bright orange ball that forms the Sun or at have a go at the swings. 8220;I think the science park is most interesting. It is fun to play, and at the same time, we learn many scientific principles 8211; for instance, why do we see only one side of the moon? Or what will my weight on the moon be?8221; says Reshma Attar, a Std. IX student of Swami Vivekanand High School. For her classmate Mayura Thakar, the well-stocked library is the centre of attraction. 8220;I saw photographs of how the Milky Way looks and that there are other galaxies in space,8221; she says.

And that is precisely the idea behind the science popularisation programme conducted by IUCAA for city schoolchildren from Stds. VIII and IX from Marathi and English medium schools. 8220;The purpose is to catch them young and expose them to a new and different approach of learning, that of scientists unfolding the mysteries of nature,8221; says Arvind Paranjpye, officer for science popularisation and part of IUCAA8217;s scientific staff.

Two scientifically motivated students nominated by their schools are invited to participate in this five-day programme, now in its seventh year. The students are divided into six batches, each batch consisting of about 25 students. Groups of four to six students are assigned to a guide from IUCAA8217;s engineering or scientific faculty to chalk out a six-hour action-packed schedule each day, which consists of informal discussions, visits to the science park and library. Prof. Jayant Narlikar, director, IUCAA, whose initiative got the programme started, also participates in the programme as a guide.

8220;Science textbooks are boring. When we see things we learn and when we get to do things we understand, it is much more fun,8221; says Siddharth Dani, a Std. IX student who enjoys solving the physics problems that his guide puts before him over a cup of tea. Yes! No boring classrooms here. A point on Einstein8217;s theory of relativity is better made over a glass of refreshing lime juice at the cafeteria. 8220;It is all up to the students to decide what they want to learn. There is no syllabus here, so they are free to clear their doubts on any subject 8211; from black holes to why we yawn. One of our batches last year wanted to concentrate on trigonometry and yet another on telescope-making,8221; says Paranjpye, who is obviously enjoying his stint as guide.

Adds Dr. Somak Raychaudhary, chairman of the committee governing the programme, 8220;We have found that after their week-long exposure to pure science, children develop an interest in it and continue in this field. One student from last year8217;s batch won the gold medal at the Astronomy Olympiad held in Russia last year. The children realise that scientific research can be a viable career option.8221;

The programme, which started on April 12, will continue till May 21, during which about 170 students will have been introduced to the mysteries of science.

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Nikhil Kundargi of Symbiosis High School is already preparing for a written report on what he has learnt through the week. 8220;We learn many things in school, but in this informal atmosphere, they are made more interesting. We learnt what light is made up of and why we see colours in the sunset.8221; On his list of important discoveries is one about scientists. 8220;Scientists are not the Einstein-like, absent-minded professors we think they are. They are quite human and fun-loving.8221; Just what the programme started out to prove 8211; QED.