Satyapal Singh, Minister of Human Resource Development, opened a laboratory for innovation at Rajhans Vidyalaya on Wednesday.
Atal Tinkering Labs is part of the Atal Innovative Mission launched by the NITI Aayog. The lab will offer dedicated work spaces where students from Classes VI to XII can learn innovation skills and develop ideas that will help in the transformation of India.
The laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment such as 3D printers, robotics and electronics development tools, Internet of Things and sensors.
Mr. Singh said young minds have been behind 82% of the world’s inventions. He said, “In order to be a scientist, one needs to think like a child. There is so much to learn in this world, nobody is born a scientist. Research is what is imperative for every budding scientist. Through this initiative we aim to foster the young innovative minds of students so that each of them get an adequate chance to channelise their ideas.”
The Centre had selected 1,700 schools to set up Atal Tinkering Laboratories in 2017. The scheme aims to provide student-friendly tools such as open source microcontroller boards and Do It Yourself kits to help understand scientific concepts.
The laboratory at Rajhans Vidyalaya provides students a safe and interactive environment to work in. A soldering section has been created to withstand extreme heat that may be generated during chemical experiments. It also has a three-dimensional machine which aims to test the prototypes created by students.
Deepshikha Srivastava, principal of the school, said, “The test starts now. The laboratory’s utility will be determined by how the students use it.” The school plans to make the facility available to as many schools as possible.
Ms. Srivastava said, “It is designed to bring out innovation. Students are encouraged to come up with an idea, create a prototype and fabricate it using equipment such as 3D printers to which they are being introduced for the first time.”
