TN to have first children’s science academy

A broad outline of the Academy has been drawn after discussions with the Division of Popularisation of Science of the Department of Science & Technology (DST). With the Science City as the nodal agency and funds from the DST, National Council for Science & Technology, non-governmental organisations and science clubs in the State, the Academy will function under the TNSTC.

It will have an advisory committee with the Science City vice-chairperson as its president, and TNSTC executive director, member-secretary of the T N State Council for Science & Technology, representatives from scientific and educational institutions and the Pollution Control Board as members.

The Academy will take up events including training for school teachers, interactive sessions with children, science camps and study tours. A computer laboratory for simulations and experiments for children, a resource centre and theme parks will be the other highlights of the Academy.

While students will be enrolled as members of the Academy annually, interested individuals and NGOs will be involved in science popularisation campaigns in rural areas too.

There will also be a special drive on `Science Education for the Girl Child.’ A `creative corner’ will be set up for developing low-cost teaching aids and the latest developments in Science and Technology will be published in Tamil and English to be circulated among students and teachers.

“The whole idea is to make the learning of science interesting. Study tours and science camps will bring students from the districts to the various scientific institutes in the Capital, while those in the City will be sent out to places of scientific interest such as Kalpakkam and Sriharikota,” Gariyali said.

As the next step, the Academy plans to conduct programmes aimed at specific groups of children. “Once we spot talent, we take special care in nurturing it. There will be programmes designed for talented and highly interested children, another for the average group and a third for the disabled,” she said.