A few students from various schools in Chennai spent their summer in style. Forty-three students from all boards of education attended the Summer Programme (SP) 2012 conducted by the Research Science Initiative, Chennai. The P.S.B.B. Group of Schools organised SP 2012 in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Chennai Mathematical Institute, Anna University and Sastra University.
The programme aimed at helping students pursue their interest in research in core sciences. It happened over a period of five weeks, during which the students had a comprehensive learning experience attending lectures, visiting laboratories and working on projects.
The valedictory function of this programme was held recently at the I.C. & S.R. auditorium in IIT-Madras.
The chief guest for the function was T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The event started with a welcome address by Vijayalakshmi Srivatsan, Chief Coordinator, RSI-C. This was followed by a Special Address by Y.G. Parthasarathy, Chief Patron, RSI-C and Dean & Director, P.S.B.B. Group of Schools.
On an encouraging note, she said, “I hope that we will discover Nobel laureates and researchers among the students assembled here. I thank the city schools for their excellent response.”
Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT-M and Chief Patron, RSI-C, delivered the valedictory address.
He said he was happy to host a programme behind which so much effort was involved. “It is wonderful to see such a large, cooperative effort taken by so many people,” he said. A report on SP 2012 was presented by Prof. K. Mangala Sunder, chairman, RSI-C. Outlining the selection process, he informed the audience that out of the 174 applications received, 95 were initially shortlisted on the basis of teachers’ recommendations.
Apart from the academic content of the programme, the students also had extra-mural sessions on various topics ranging from temple architecture to alternative career options.
