“One Day as a Scientist” week at CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI), Bhopal, witnessed enthusiastic participation of 465 students from 43 schools, along with teachers across five days of interactive learning and scientific exploration.
The programme was designed to bridge classroom learning with real-world science, inspire innovation, and motivate students to pursue careers in science and technology. Information about the event was widely circulated through emails, websites, and social media platforms. Each day followed a structured schedule comprising registrations, welcome sessions, lectures by scientists, interactive discussions, quizzes, debate and speech competitions, scientific puzzles, fun activities, laboratory visits, and valedictory ceremonies.
Day 1 began with a centralised virtual inaugural address by Dr Vinay K Nandicoori, Director, CSIR-CCMB, organised centrally, followed by a welcome lecture from Dr Satanand Mishra, who introduced CSIR’s contributions and AMPRI’s achievements. Technical talks included Dr Sarika Verma’s lecture on bamboo-based sustainable designs and Dr Ram Kumar’s session on atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials. Students also interacted with Dr Gaurav Kumar Gupta and visited laboratories such as the polymer lab and mechanical workshop. Quiz winners were felicitated, and the day concluded with group photographs and student feedback.
Day 2 featured a debate on “Are Humans Responsible for Global Warming?” and lectures given by Dr Avinash Tiwari on polymers and sustainability, and Dr Archana Singh on the environmental impact of microplastics. The sessions highlighted pressing environmental concerns and engaged students in thoughtful discussions.
Day 3, lectures by Dr Abhishek Pandey on additive manufacturing and Dr Dipen Kumar Rajak on metal foams introduced students to cutting-edge material science research. Lab visits included demonstrations of 3D printing, Raman spectroscopy, and shape memory polymers, offering hands-on experiences that complemented theoretical learning.
Day 4 began with Dr Satanand Mishra’s lecture on the Internet of Things and a debate on the impact of social media. Students explored facilities such as Bamboo Baithak, Electroplating Lab, and Raman Spectrometer setups. Talks by Dr Tamal Chatterjee on solar fuels and Dr TS Shabi on radiation shielding materials further expanded students’ perspectives on energy and safety materials. Debate winners were felicitated during the valedictory session.
Day 5 covered advanced topics such as Artificial Intelligence by Dr. Satanand Mishra, Magic of Sound by Dr Kirti Soni and “Wastewater Research” by Dr M Chandra Shekhar Nayak. Students actively participated in debate, quiz, and speech competitions, explored laboratories, and shared positive feedback during the closing ceremony.
Overall, the programme combined popular lectures, interactive discussions, fun-based activities, and guided laboratory visits, creating a vibrant platform for students to learn, question, and experience the excitement of science. Students are also provided with an opportunity and a platform to share their scientific ideas. The active engagement of scientists as mentors, coupled with the students’ enthusiasm, made the programme a resounding success. Students expressed their gratitude and requested that such initiatives to be organised more frequently. The event truly reflected CSIR’s commitment to nurturing young scientific minds and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
