The Regional Science Centre here is planning to train college students in disaster mitigation measures such as handling the fallout of flood, fire and building collapse.
Apart from the coaching to apply first aid and removing victims to ambulances, the Centre would also bring in experts to explain the scientific reasons behind such calamities, how to avoid them and draw up contingency plans, T.M. Alagiri Swamy Raju, Project Director (in-charge), Regional Science Centre, Coimbatore, told The Hindu here on Thursday.
The Centre would approach the colleges for these programmes, which would be conducted free of cost. Besides a 3D theatre to screen science films, he said that it also had a modern auditorium, capable of accommodating 175, to conduct such programmes.
Similar programmes have already been held at Periyar Science and Technology Centre, Chennai, and Anna Science Centre, Tiruchi.
Also, under ‘meet the scientist’ initiative, experts on fields such as biotechnology and nanotechnology would be invited to interact with the college students and explain the recent advancements.
The centre will also give a lot of focus to schools with several programmes lined up to make the subject more appealing to the students.
A list of schools would be obtained from the Department of School Education. Additional emphasis would be placed on reaching out to Corporation, Municipal and Government schools.
“All the exhibits in the science centre have explanations in Tamil and English. With most of them being interactive, students will have a fun time and also learn science,” he said.
The centre had three permanent galleries – how science works, textile and fun science – with each having around 75 exhibits besides a temporary gallery where the topic would change periodically.
A science park that featured play things that have been modelled on science had also been established.
Further, Mr. Raju said that camps would also be held for school students in classes VII to IX during winter and summer holidays. It would feature demonstrations, interactions with experts and scientific explanations for superstitions and myths. However, for this event alone, a nominal fee would be charged.
Further, he said that every second Saturday, the centre will host a sky observation programme.
The high-resolution telescope at the centre was capable of spotting planets such as Venus, Mercury and Jupiter.
“On a night with clear skies, even the rings around Saturn can be seen with this telescope.”
The Rs. 8.5 crore-Regional Science Centre here, which spans across 6.71 acres and features hundreds of exhibits aimed at stimulating interest in science among school students, was constructed by the National Council of Science Museums (NSCM) and handed over to the State Government at a ‘Dedication Function’ on July 13.
The cost was shared equally by the State and Central Governments.
