Former Isro scientist to hold science camps during summer vacation for students.
Once the summer vacation kicks in, students interested in picking up the finer threads of science can look forward for some interesting sessions. Summer science camps will be held for children aged 7-15 years from April-May.
Brainchild of former Isro scientist Sujata Virdhe, the idea behind the camps will mainly be to make physics, chemistry and biology interesting.
“By going beyond textbooks, by drawing parallels between science and everyday life, students will be able to understand concepts better,” says Virdhe.
Just because it is a science camp does not mean students should start perceiving it as “something related to lectures and textbooks again. Science is fun and easy to grasp if taught in the right manner,” says Virdhe.
By allowing students to undertake experiments and lay their hands on equipment like microscope etc, concepts like magnetism, electricity, osmosis and so on can be made interesting, she says.
Taking the example of chemistry, Virdhe says all textbooks talk about the molecular formula of salt, sugar, water. “But showing children how these compounds work when mixed with each other can help ease out the difficulty in understanding textbook language,” says Virdhe. Though locations for the camp are yet to be finalised, Virdhe says areas like Domlur, JP Nagar, HSR layout, Shanti Nagar etc, where the Sunday Science School (SSS) has been running, could be considered.
Virdhe’s SSS, which is held every Sunday to provide hands-on experience to children, has seen about 500 children in the 7-15 years group take part this academic year.
Started in July past year, SSS will go on till February this year. At the SSS, children get guidance for a duration of two hours every Sunday by professionals from science-related backgrounds, like engineering.
Manohar Kant, parent of a class VIII student, says such camps and sessions are necessary, “since children find subjects like physics and chemistry interesting, and also get to interact with other children and professionals in the field.”
Virdhe designs products like microscopes, solar goggles, telescopes for school children.
L Green Ventures, the company Virdhe started in 2009, after working in Isro for over 22 years, makes products that can help children learn tables in mathematics through board games like snakes and ladders, and concepts of physics like magnetism, electricity, light and sound through play kits.
For little Einsteins and Newtons
Through the summer science camps, former Isro scientist Sujata Virdhe intends to make concepts like magnetism, electricity, osmosis etc interesting for students in the age group of 7 to 15 years, by making them undertake experiments using equipment like microscopes and telescopes.
Virdhe, having worked for Indian Space Research Organisation for 22 years, now runs a Sunday Science School in city, which provides hands-on experience to children in the basic concepts of science.
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