Young students, teachers from Bengal to participate in IISF this year

Kolkata: At least 50 young scientists and 27 science teachers from Bengal have been nominated for taking part in the Indian International Science Festival (IISF) that will be held in Lucknow from October 5-8.

As many as eight outreach programmes will be held later this month at various institutions in the state where students will be given an opportunity to interact with the scientists. Students will get access to laboratories where the scientists can guide them through their projects and provide them with important insights on science and technology.

One such science outreach programme will be conducted at CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute in Jadavpur on September 14, where Union Science and Technology minister Dr Harsh Vardhan will inaugurate the zonal curtain raiser of IISF 2018 in Kolkata in the end.

The science outreach programmes will be held at various institutions in the city and outside where students from various schools will be given a platform to showcase their talents. The institutions include Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science and Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in the city. It will be held at Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science on September 19, while Indian Institute of Chemical Biology will host the outreach programme on September 24.

Around 42 NGOs working on various fields of science have been selected through a screening process held in the city on August 1. The NGOs working at the grassroot level will participate in the NGO Conclave which is a part of IISF.

Apart from Kolkata, three other cities have been selected for the official inauguration of the curtain raiser.

They are Thiruvananthapuram, Pune and Delhi. The science teachers who have been selected for the IISF 2018 in Lucknow will be given training in new teaching module and how to enhance their teaching skills.

The teachers will be imparted knowledge on how to make students interested in various science projects. Principals of various schools have nominated science teachers through a screening process.

There will be programmes like Young scientist conclave where scientists across the world below the age of 45 will take part in discussions, present various science projects, interact with students. There will also be separate conclaves for agricultural research scientists, National science teachers and North East students in the IISF.