2-month long science fair at Science City from Nov 4

Kolkata: A two-month long exhibition 'Vigyan Samagam' to showcase India's prowess in Global Mega Science projects will be launched at Science City in Kolkata on November 4.

The two-month event will take science enthusiasts through the workings of the universe ranging from the discovery of Higgs particle to that of gravitational waves to merger of neutron stars and black holes.

Some of the seven mega science global projects in which India is participating are the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research 'Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research' (FAIR), 'India-based Neutrino Observatory' (INO) and 'International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor' (ITER).

"We have written to around 80 schools in the city and its fringes, to the vice chancellors of universities, including the private ones and also colleges affiliated to these universities, urging them to let their students attend the exhibition. We expect a turnout of 2 lakhs at the exhibition," said Subhabrata Chaudhuri, director of Science City, Kolkata.

Atomic Energy Commission secretary Arun Srivastava said after Mumbai and Bengaluru, Kolkata will be the third city where the mega exhibition is being organised. "We have had a turnout of around 1.2 lakhs at the Mumbai and Bengaluru and we expect that the response will be greater in Kolkata," added Srivastava. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) under Ministry of Culture are the joint organisers of 'Vigyan Samagam'.

A meeting was also held on Thursday with the representatives from local schools, colleges and universities to popularise the event at

Science City. "Students study in a confined environment in schools and the knowledge imparted in science is mostly bookish. This platform will provide them hands on experience of modern developments in science," said Susmita Rakshit, teacher of Biology at Ballygunge Siksha Sadan.

The science exhibition will continue till December 31 with Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan slated to inaugurate it.