The Hindu : National : Programme to spread scientific awareness

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Thursday, Sep 13, 2007
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Programme to spread scientific awareness

Meera Srinivasan

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology will soon conduct a programme across the State to spread awareness of science and technology among rural students, women self-help groups and farmers.

Higher Education Minister and council president K. Ponmudy told The Hindu that the initiative was aimed at providing exposure to students, teachers and rural communities. “This is in addition to our existing programmes to ensure that knowledge of scientific advancements reaches a wider section.”

The initiative is in line with the department’s objective of popularising the benefits of science and technology among schoolchildren, farmers and the public. Students in rural areas will be informed about research undertaken in institutions of higher learning and how they can offer solutions to various issues. The department has allocated Rs.5 lakh to the council for the project. The two-month programme is expected to take off early October.

Member secretary of the council S. Vincent said the programme was structured to address students, SHGs and farmers separately. The programme for school students was targeted at Standard IX students. “Exposing them to various avenues in science will help them take informed decisions in Plus-Two.” This, he said, could motivate them to pursue research in fields of their interest.

The module for SHGs would focus on revenue generation, using scientific methods in food processing, mushroom culturing, gardening, horticulture and floriculture. “We will train them in a basic scientific model depending upon their area of specialisation. They can replicate this model in their village,” he said. “The intervention of science and technology will speed up their work and reflect in the quality of products they intend marketing.”

The programme would also cover modules for farmers. “The science of agriculture has not reached farmers yet. We want to educate them in aspects like bio-pesticides, organic farming, pest management and integrated crop farming,” he said.

Colleges would be involved in workshops and training programmes. The council had identified 10 colleges, which would cover three districts each. The colleges were chosen based on their effective participation in the council’s activities earlier. A professor would be assigned the role of coordinator. A meeting of coordinators would be held in Chennai on September 20. Thereafter, they would go and train their faculty members and students. They would conduct workshops in every district and address the identified groups. The programme would initially cover 1,500 candidates.

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