Narlikar calls for inculcating scientific spirit among kids
Kolkata: Padma Vibhushan awardee astrophysicist J V Narlikar advocated on Saturday that at least a single class should be dedicated to inculcate the scientific spirit among school children, adding that their interests should be created in science by changing the teaching method.
Professor Narlikar, who is in the city to attend a two-day National Science Conference on the theme 'Integrating Science with Society' at Jadavpur University, said: "The way science is taught in most schools is unable to attract students in most cases. The receiver often does not understand and is therefore unable to appreciate the beauty of a thing. A student mind particularly after a science class often wonders why this or that happens. If we can have a period in a week where he or she can ask questions and get answers, the interest will grow automatically," Narikar said.
The noted scientist, who is an Emeritus professor of the Pune-based Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), said students from Class IX and X at the Centre get the opportunity to associate with science every day. 30 to 40 school children in batches from different schools turn up daily and use toy models which have a magical impact. When they ask questions, their queries are answered. "The activity is a drop in the ocean but, believe me, interacting with students who have participated in such activities at IUCAA, tell me that they have been motivated by it," Narlikar maintained. The activity in IUCAA has been going on for 20 years and is extremely popular among students, claimed Narlikar. More than 30 scientists of international repute from various institutes of the country are attending the conference organised by 'Breakthrough Science Society', a voluntary body committed to propagate science and scientific outlook.
Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Prof Suranjan Das in his inaugural address of the meet said scientific reasoning-based education can help the country come out of the present crisis.
