Kerala: Science Museum at government higher secondary school to be dedicated on January 18

WAYANAD: The state-of-the-art Science Museum developed by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) at the Government Higher Secondary School at Meppadi in this hill district will be dedicated on January 18.

It is one of the 75 such museums planned as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav across the country to promote scientific temperament among students. RGCB Director Prof Chandrabhas Narayana will hand over the museum to the school authorities at a function on the campus at 9.30 am, which will be followed by a science workshop for students, an official release said here on Tuesday.

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The project has been envisaged and implemented by RGCB and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, with the objective of promoting a scientific approach among the students and the local community, besides creating general awareness about scientific intervention through bio-resources. Conceived and developed under the guidance of Prof Narayana, the museum, which has its special focus on biotechnology, will reach out to students to inspire them for a career in science and technology while celebrating the history and future of research as well as innovation in the country, it said.

"Wayanad is one of the prime biodiversity hotspots of the Western Ghats. It is also an important region of tribal population where ethnic culture and invaluable traditional knowledge are preserved. This is why Wayanad was chosen under the project," said Narayana.

Besides displaying a variety of research equipment, lectures, seminars, scientific camps and outreach programmes will be organised as part of the activities of the museum for the benefit of students, teachers and the local community. The highlights of the museum include video screening, display of posters and graphical representations of research findings, global research scenario and bio resources management including plant tissue culture, GM crops, the release said.

Every instrument used in Biotechnology applications and research are exhibited, most of which are in working condition, giving the museum the ambience of a well-equipped laboratory. This museum will be instrumental in fostering scientific temperament among students in the region, where RGCB will make several outreach activities to promote it in all aspects.

The RGCB, Thiruvananthapuram, is an autonomous institute under Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, with the mission on 'Discoveries for a better tomorrow' and their sustainable use through biotechnological interventions for the socio-economic growth of the region.