BENGALURU: How can technology in the conventional white stick, used by the visually-challenged, help them cross the road more safely? Can agar-agar, a food thickening agent, substitute gelatin as capsule cover? Can a noise pollution measuring device be made at home? These are just a few of the solutions 11-13 year old children from different schools in the city worked on at a recent workshop held at the Advanced Learning Centres (ALCs) set up by National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
While students were exposed to different sessions by subject experts from various fields including neuroscience, nanoscience, robotics and design thinking (DT), budding scientists worked on their own solutions to ensure that they become a reality. The workshop also allowed NIAS scholars to interact with the children, share ideas with them and get feedback on developments in science and technology.
Dr Anitha Kurup, Head, National Programme on Education of the Gifted and Talented, NIAS, told Deccan Chronicle that weekly sessions at ALCs and annual residential workshops at the institute are aimed at instilling the excitement of pursuing research among children. “This along with proper mentoring, rather than mere project funding through scholarships, will help them pursue their dreams. Providing them with necessary training and access to research, lab facilities and more, where formal school education fails to reach, is what we do through such programmes,” she said.
A seventh grade student who is part of ALC is completing an internship at a renowned centre at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), she said. After training 45 students from Bengaluru North and South ALCs and students from four schools in Hyderabad, the NIAS is planning to extend the programme by setting up centres at JP Nagar in city, Mysuru and Gwalior. The Centre is also working on creating a digital database of mentors at the regional, national and international level to ensure effective mentoring and assistance to young researchers. This is in addition to the Prodigy programme and the annual fellowship offered to young achievers. While NIAS MAIYA Prodigy fellowships were awarded to ten students from across the state last year, the number rose to 15 this year.
