Raman Science Centre - instilling scientific temper among kids

21 September, 2012

Learning science is fun but only when one has the attitude and aptitude to find the fun factor in it. Nowadays, it has become very easy to develop a scientific temper amongst children with the help of the Internet and various other means.

BUT THIS was not the case two decades ago. So when Raman Science Centre was established at Nagpur in 1992 it was a big leap. The famous science amusement park was started with some basic science demos and instruments and Dr Saroj Ghosh was chosen as its director. The park was a grand new beginning, but still, something was amiss.

Even the then Prime Minister of India Dr P V Narasimha Rao, had expressed the need to make a few additions to make the place more popular among the masses. With Rao's interest and hard work of Dr Ghosh and team, Raman Science Centre was opened for public in 1997. Gradually, the novel concept caught up with people. A visit to the Science Centre started becoming part of the Sunday itinerary for many families.

In 2000, Shrikant Pathak took over as its director. He launched some new programmes and planned out visits of school children to the centre. “Earlier there was only analog system to enjoy sky gazing. Later, it was developed by installing LCD projectors,” informed Pathak. He added that keeping in mind the rising number of visitors, the Centre was renovated and new invention galleries were installed.

In 2005, inauguration of pre-historic animal park in Raman Science Centre caught the fancy of the visitors as it was the first light and sound show about animals that wandered some 500-1000 million years ago in Central India. Later, continuos update of various instruments kept interest of the visitors, who had by now started coming from outside Nagpur as well, alive.

Digital Planetarium, fun science gallery, information and communication gallery, invention section, laser show, 3D shows add a new dimension to one's understanding of the subject. The invention gallery contains 45 interactive exhibits. It provides information about various inventions in the field of Science and Technology, particularly about the mechanical systems, travel and communication technology. Fun Science I and II galleries have total 80 participatory exhibits. These galleries give information on topics like how joints in our body move to enable smooth movement, why we see infinite images of an object etc.Then there is a gallery that gives information about the journey of information and communication technology right from the dawn of civilizations.

Planetarium and pre-historic park are the special attraction of Raman Science Centre. Apart from this, they also organise quiz contests, exhibitions, workshops and popular science lectures round the year to maintain the kids' interest alive in science. Shrikant Pathak, Project Director of Centre, said, “Me and my team wish to make science popular not only among children of Nagpur but also among children around the city.” He informed that a proposal has been placed in the 12th Five Year Plan for a larger auditorium, Science and culture museum at the Centre.

Science is a part of our routine life from the smallest home appliance to the biggest technological invention we use. It is omnipresent. There is a need to have a clearer vision and determination to pursue it and Raman Science Centre is that place which is helping in giving people that vision and determination.