Science India Forum – Qatar (SIFQ) recently conducted a state level camp orientation for Level-2 contestants of the Shastra Pratibha Contest (SPC). Top-20 qualifiers from Grade-VI to Grade-XI of the Level-1 SPC participated in the state level camp.
The orientation programme included three sessions with talks, presentation and interaction by subject experts on oceanography, experimental skill test and science behind toys and atomic energy and agriculture. While opening the session, SIFQ president congratulated the students for qualifying to the top-20 of the SPC. He also explained the requirements of Level-2 evaluation and opportunities for the qualifiers.
Dr Aboobacker V M, physical oceanographer and research assistant professor at Environmental Science Center Qatar University, enlightened the students on the topic – oceanography – in a lucid and interesting manner. He touched upon the various devices that are used in oceanography to collect various types of data from under the ocean like sediments, ocean water, planktons etc. He enumerated various expeditions that have been taken up in recent years and listed the contributions made by the various institutes such as the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Indian Ocean Biological Centre (IOBC) and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
Dr Brajesh Pandey, associate professor of physics at department of Applied Sciences at Symbiosis Institute of Technology Pune India, briefed the students about the evaluation process and shared important tips. He elaborated on Experimental Skill Test (EST) and Science behind the Toys (SBT). He presented online experiments and practical demonstrations, which involves methods of science, activities to test scientific understanding, innovation, creativity, and out-of-box thinking.
Dr Vishnu Vaze is master in marine zoology and PhD in microbiology. He is a retired professor from Mithibai College Mumbai. Speaking on the topic of atomic energy and agriculture, Dr Vaze touched upon the basis of India being an agrarian economy and its journey towards food security. He enumerated the various institutions such as Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Agricultural University etc. and their contribution towards food security. He further went on to explain the Indian journey in atomic energy from exploration, mining, to the building of indigenous reactors such as APSARA, CIRUS, ZERLINA, PURNIMA and DHRUV. He explained India’s Atomic Energy Programme and the fundamental research in nuclear science conducted initially by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and later in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Trombay.
The interactive session was well attended by 120 students who qualified for the state level camp. The SPC App based final evaluation of Level-2 will be held on April 9, 2021 for the junior category students and on April 16 for the senior category students.
