IIT Mandi launches ‘Science on Wheels’ to reach 50 schools across Himachal Pradesh

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, in collaboration with Plaksha University and the Igniting Dreams of Young Minds (IDYM) Foundation, has launched the ‘Science on Wheels’ programme in Himachal Pradesh to promote practical science education among school students, particularly those in rural areas. The initiative aims to cover 50 schools across Mandi, Kullu, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra districts.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Education, the programme’s Himachal Pradesh segment was launched on October 17 at IIT Mandi Campus School. The initiative is supported by the Department of Science and Technology ( DST ), Government of India, through the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC).

The programme is designed for students in Classes 6 to 12 and offers around six hours of hands-on learning at each school. Activities are organised around four themes: space technology, robotics, sustainability and water filtration.

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Science on Wheels expands across Himachal schools

Following its launch, the Science on Wheels team began visiting schools in Mandi district. The initial visits covered government senior secondary schools in Badog, Baggi (K), Bari Gumanu, Batheri and Deori.

The initiative aims to help students connect classroom lessons with practical experiments and develop scientific curiosity, rational thinking, creativity and innovation.

The programme has previously reached more than 7,500 students through 70 schools in Chhattisgarh and Punjab, according to the Ministry of Education’s press release. It will now expand its activities to schools across Himachal Pradesh in the coming weeks.

IIT Mandi director highlights science education

Speaking at the launch event, IIT Mandi Director Laxmidhar Behera said the initiative could help develop an interest in science among school students and encourage them to contribute to India’s technological development.

Behera said, “Science on Wheels is a great initiative. We need to develop an interest in science amongst our children as they are the future of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).”

He added, “With the help of Science on Wheels, not only will we be able to instill interest in learning science within them, but these children could be the people who will come up with futuristic technology such as the fMRI machine and the Atomic Force Microscope in India, provided we do something more than just demonstrating science to them.”

Deshraj Sharma, principal of IIT Mandi Campus School, also welcomed the initiative.

Sharma said, “You are educating children about science in areas where even the sight of such scientific equipment and using it is an unusual opportunity for them. Thus, by doing so you are widening their horizons of thoughts and giving new opportunities to them for the future. It is indeed a noble project.”

Rocket launch showcases science in action

A live hydro rocket launch was one of the key attractions at the inauguration ceremony. The activity demonstrated scientific concepts related to force, pressure and motion, allowing students to connect classroom learning with real-world applications.

One student at IIT Mandi Campus School said the activity changed how they viewed science. “It was amazing seeing the rocket launch live!” the student said.

The launch event was also attended by Surya Prakash Upadhyay, chairperson of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Mandi; Rahul Vaish, dean of faculty at IIT Mandi; and Shaily Mahendra of the University of California , Los Angeles, who is working as an international environmental expert at IIT Mandi.

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The project is led by Rucha Joshi, principal investigator at Plaksha University. The team also includes Harshad Kulkarni of IIT Mandi, Shashank Tamaskar of Plaksha University, Ratnesh Mishra, president of the IDYM Foundation, and Srijita Chkraburty, visiting assistant professor at Plaksha University, Mohali.

The IDYM Foundation is an official Space Tutor of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) .

The programme will continue with school visits across Himachal Pradesh, aiming to make practical science education more accessible to students in remote areas.