Visakhapatnam: It was a world of difference for thousands of students on Thursday, who got a glimpse of the Science Express, from their routine classroom setting.
Complementing what they learned theoretically, the Science Express which was stationed on the otherwise isolated platform number eight of the Visakhapatnam railway station, provided a deep insight into the climate change and how it can be addressed through mitigation and adoption.
Thousands of people, particularly students accompanied by their teachers, made a beeline into the Express right from the morning.
Speaking to this correspondent, Bhanu Prasad, a Class V student from Anakapalle, said that the exhibits, pictures and LCD television displays, with video and sound provided good info about the climate change.
Right from having statistics of temperature rise around the world over the last 100 years to how the world is a reaching a tipping point in climate change, the Science Express effectively brought together various facets of climate change which even a layman can understand.
Each coach showcases different components of climate change. For example, coach one provides insights into the climate as a system, the greenhouse gas effect and the underlying reasons for climate change.
Coach two explains how the higher temperature, monsoon variations and sea level rise are predicted to affect vital sectors and ways to reduce these. The other coaches, right from three to eleven, explain adaptation options in urban and rural contexts and international negotiations on climate change.
Complementing the Paris Climate Summit’s final consensus of reduction of climate change, this train provides a strong nudge to the general populace towards climate protection, added Dinesh Kumar, a volunteer of the train.
On the other hand, the Kids Zone and the Platform Activities indulged the tiny kids in fun-filled activities, games and puzzles in science, mathematics and environment.
The popular Joy of Science (JOS) Hands-on Lab was once again put up in another coach where students are encouraged to perform experiments and activities to understand concepts in environment, science and mathematics in an interesting manner.
The Science Express was inaugurated by DRM, Chandralekha Mukherjee.
The inaugural function was attended by ADRM, Ajay Arora, Sr. DCM, Yelvender Yadav, Dr. Sarat Babu, Vishnu Murthy, other officers and staff.
