Gujarat to hold National Children Science Congress

For the first time, National Children Science Congress will be held in Gujarat. The five day event will start from December 27 at Gujarat Science City.

About 100 child scientists and escort teachers from SAARC countries are participating in the 17th NCSC this year. The Congress is held every year since its first meeting in 1993. The theme this year is 'PLANET EARTH - our home: Explore, Share and Care’.

Apart from the 700 selected child scientists from India, students of schools of Gujarat will also be involved through different scientific activities and interactive programmes. About 5000 Gujarat students will take part in different programmes every day. Different scientific institutions from within and outside Gujarat will be part of scientific exhibition to be organized along with other activities.

Giving details of the event, Dr. Narottam Sahoo of Gujarat Science City said that NCSC is a prestigious national academic event for the meritorious children of the age group of 10 to 17 years named as child scientists, both from formal and informal, along with eminent scientists and faculties of the country. The programme has been proved and provides a real platform for the budding scientists to make their career and profession in science.

One of the most interesting activities of the NCSC is interaction of Eminent Scientists of the country with child scientists. They ask questions, express their doubts to the scientists and the scientists try to answer their question. Over the years eminent scientists like Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India, Prof Yashpal, Chancellor of JNU, Prof M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman of MSSRF, Dr. Madhab Gadgil, Prof Jayant V. Narliker, Dr. Madhavan Nair, Dr. D. Balasubramanian, Dr. N. K. Sehgal and many other prominent scientists interacted with the child scientists of NCSC.

The programmes will be held both at Science City and the SGVP International School campus. The major activities of the NCSC- 2009 are (i) technical session for Child Scientists, (ii) scientific exhibition by premier scientific institutions and themes, (iii) activity corners, (iv) interaction of eminent scientist of the country, (v) poster presentation, (vi) cultural programme by the Child Scientists, (vii) teacher orientation programmes, (viii) face to face and videoconferencing sessions with leading scientists.