Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy & Department of Space and Vice President, CSIR, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised the harnessing of young aptitudes. The Minister spoke after inaugurating the “Children Science Festival” organised by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, on 06 November 2023. Dr Jitendra Singh also took a round of the stalls in the exhibition and witnessed different kinds of science models prepared by the students. The students drawn from the schools of the Jammu region have also scripted slogans under different themes, including Health & Wellness, Water Conservation, Waste Management and Save Mother Earth.

While addressing the school students, Dr Jitendra Singh narrated how the Jigyasa programme is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) of Scientific Communities and Institutions. Jigyasa is a Student-Scientist connect programme implemented by the CSIR in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).

Dr Jitendra Singh also applauded the efforts of CSIR-IIIM for organising such outreach activities for the students from schools and colleges. He said such activities help increase scientific aptitude and inculcate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in young minds. He also distributed prizes to the winners of various competitions.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that India’s first Virtual Science Lab for Children under the CSIR Jigyasa Programme was launched, which built a strong connection between students and scientists nationwide. He also said that the main objective of establishing the virtual lab was to provide quality research exposure and innovative pedagogy for school students based on an online interactive medium. He added that the new facility will immensely benefit students from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, and government schools of various state boards and help catch them.

In the Children Science Festival, more than 350 students from about 55 schools under the government of J&K, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodya Vidyalayas, Army Public Schools, Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Schools, etc., from various districts of Jammu region showcased their talent in various competitions such as science models, science/current affairs quiz competition, poster competition on ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and slogan writing competition on ‘Space Mission of India’.

Students of Seva Bharti, an NGO that provides free education and vocational training to children from economically weaker sections of society, displayed various products developed under the ‘Waste to Wealth’ theme.

Earlier, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, gave the details of this event in his welcome address and said that the main objective of the Children Science Festival is to ignite the scientific spirit in young minds.

Further, he informed the audience that CSIR-IIIM has been regularly organising various youth conclaves and startup expos as outreach activities and to support and nurture the startup ecosystem of the UT of J&K. Later, Dr Zabeer apprised that CSIR-IIIM has three incubation centres viz. Technology Business Incubator (TBI), BioNEST Incubator and Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) for hand-holding and promoting the startups.

Prominent among the dignitaries present in the function were Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal Govt Medical College, Jammu; Prof. Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu; Ashok Kumar Sharma, JKAS, Director School Education, Jammu; Nagendra Goyal, Deputy Commissioner, KV Sangathan, Jammu.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Er Abdul Rahim, Chief Scientist and Head of the Srinagar branch.