DST’S INSPIRE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
Innovation in Scientific Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi was a programme launched by the Government of India to inspire students into natural science streams and to strengthen the Natural Science and Technology base in India. Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent (SEATS) aimed to attract talented youth to study science by providing a Science INSPIRE Camp for toppers in class 10th Board-2013 examination and who were presently pursuing science in 11 ,12th standard. Mentors for INSPIRE Science Camp were Academy Fellows, Bhatnagar Awardees and Scientist of National and international repute. The camp was a ground for healthy interaction between the Mentors and the Students through Lecturers related to scientific success stories and joys of innovation across all streams of science that turn in would stimulate their curiosity and attracted them at an early age to pursue their career of science. The students were given opportunities to enhance scientific temper and exclusive set up in the camp.
Eligibility Criteria:
1. Only science students of higher secondary school were eligible to participate in the science camp.
2. Top 1% students in class 10th Board-2013 examination and who were presently pursuing science in 11th and 12th standard.
3. For UP Board students- Minimum required % = 72.6 %
4. For CBSE Board students- Minimum CGPA required = A1
5. For ICSE Board students- Minimum required % = 95 %
6. Number of students is restricted to 150.
7. Application were reached by 25th June,2014.
8. Selected candidates were provided TA and local Hospitality.
Recently the Department of Science and Technology (DST) programme was organised in SCBIHE College from 2nd July �?6th July. The programme was launched by Government of India to inspire students in to Natural Science Streams and to strengthen the Natural Science and Technology base in India. Many reputed Resource persons were invited for INSPIRE Science Camp. Mentors for INSPIRE Science Camp were �?Dr. Das Mukul, Dr. Sangwan Neelam, Dr. A.K. Singh, Dr. Rai Vibhuti, Dr. D. Kar Chaudhary, Dr. A.K. Saxena, Dr. S.K. Rath, Dr. Tumul Singh & Dr. Tapadia G. Madhu.
Around 150 students who are toppers in class 10th board 2013 examinations and are presently pursuing science in 12th standard participated in DST Programme. Students of respective schools were invited �?br/> �?Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIM Road, Lucknow
�?Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gomti nagar, Lucknow
�?Creative convent Inter College, Lucknow
�?Central Academy, Indiranagar, Lucknow
�?St. Joseph Inter College, Rajajipuram, Lucknow
�?Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial School, Sec-14, Indiranagar, Lucknow
�?Army Public School, SP Marg, Lucknow.
INAUGURAL DAY �?2nd JULY
On 2nd of July at 9:00 am the DST Programme was commenced with welcoming the participants , their registration, the DST kit distribution along with the delicious breakfast. There after the DST Programme was inaugurated by the chief guest Prof. Dinesh Sharma, Mayor of Lucknow, along with Prof. Bhoomittra Dev, Vice Chancellor D.D.U.U. Gorakhpur, M.J.P.R.U. Bareily, D.B.R.A.U Agra and Prof. A.K. Sharma, Examination Controller of Lucknow University. The programme was commenced by lighting of lamp by the chief guest, honourable Mayor city Lucknow, our special guest and keynote speaker Prof. Bhoomittra Dev, and Prof. A.K. Sharma along with all the teachers of different schools.
Prof. Dinesh Sharma, the chief guest inaugurated the DST Inspire Programme. He guided the students and motivated them by explaining importance of 3D’s in life i.e. Desire, Decision, Determination. He insisted upon co-curricular activities along with bookish knowledge and asked the students to follow modernity without loosing traditional values. He also suggested students to learn something on a regular basis and not to focus on studies only before examination. The simple living and high thinking of the chief guest has left a very deep impression on the students.
The keynote speaker Prof. Bhoomittra Dev delivered the lecture on ‘Vigyan ke Adbhut Paydaan�?/b>. His lecture was related to scientific success stories and joys of innovation across all streams of science. Very interestingly he mentioned about �?9 Rasa �?of Hindi language and added one more i.e. ‘ऊ�?रस�?with which most of the people are entangled i.e. quitting the work before completion due to boredom or involving oneself in uninteresting work. He gave different definitions of science with new perspectives. He advised students to be innovative and not to follow blindly whatever has been discovered. Try to bring innovations in whatever they see and come to know.
The 1st mentor Dr. Mukul Das, Director’s grade, IITR, Lucknow, who has also served as Chairman, Food Additives Sectional Committee, Bureau of Indian Standard, New Delhi. He also served as Expert Scientific Panel Member on Food Additives. He delivered an interesting lecture on ‘Toxicity of Food Adulterants�?/b> and made the students aware about food safety and unfair trade practices in quality and quantity. Food contamination refers to the presence of harmful chemicals and microorganisms which can cause consumer illness through food. The impact of chemical contaminants on consumer health and well-being is often apparent only after prolonged exposure at low levels. Chemical contaminants present in foods are often unaffected by thermal processing (unlike most microbiological agents).
Later on the students performed experiments on electrolysis of Potassium Iodide. The basic aim of this experiment was to study the electrolysis of products of Potassium Iodide (KI). Apparatus used in this experiment were U-Tube stand, electrodes, KI solution, battery eliminator.The Experiment was started with the Preparation of 0.1M solution of potassium iodide then fixed a U- shaped tube in a stand and inserted two graphite electrodes into both ends of the U- tube through the corks. Took about 30ml of 0.1M solution of potassium iodide in a 100ml beaker added five or six drops of phenolphthalein solution and five to six drops of freshly prepared starch solution. Stirred the solution and transferred it into an electrolysis �?tube fitted with graphite electrodes. Passed electric current through the electrolyte and observed the appearance of colour. A pink colour appeared at the cathode and a violet colour appeared at the anode. Bubble formation also occurred on the surface of the cathode.In the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of potassium iodide, I- ions were oxidized at the anode preferentially to water molecules. Violet colour at anode was due to iodine. Pink colour at cathode was due to formation of OH- ions which rendered the solution alkaline. OH- ions gave pink colour with phenolphthalein.There after a group discussion was held on the topic ‘Observation of Magnetic Permeability of Different Material�?under the guidance of mentors.
2nd DAY OF THE PROGRAMME �?3rd JULY
On 3rd July, our special guest Dr. Pradeep Srivastava was welcomed by Dr. Manju Anand. He is a ‘Sciencetoonist�?/b> and he was awarded by American Society as world’s best scientist. His lecture was on Nanotechnology i.e. A technology of the future. He acknowledged the students about this technology and the advancement of this technology in future. He believes that Nanotechnology is very important in developing world as it involves little labour, land and maintenance and it is highly productive and expensive.1st lecture was delivered by the Mentor Dr. A.K. Singh, the Prof. of Physics Department of Lucknow University on ‘Space Weather Phenomenon�?/b>. He told students about space, weather/ climate and parameters which are used to measure current, temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed etc. Very meticulously he explained each and every detail of Meteorology and climatology and space weather consequences.2nd lecture was given by the Mentor Dr. S.K. Rath, Principal Scientist, Division of Toxicology, CDRI Lucknow. His lecture was on ‘Drug Toxicity�?/b>. He delivered lecture on the amount and doses of drugs. He explained the interaction of drug to body and body to drug. He made the students aware of general myths about drugs and advised them not to follow the people’s suggestion to take the drug for preventing general diseases.The experiments in the lab were held under the guidance of the mentors followed by group discussions on the different themes of science. All the participants interacted with the mentors and gained real experience and knowledge. This was the most enthusiastic session of the day.
3rd DAY OF THE PROGRAMME �?4th JULY
On 4th July our special guest Dr. Suryakant Tripathi, Prof. & HoD Pulmonary Medicine, KGMU, Lucknow was invited for the lecture. Even as the multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis takes a virtually epidemic from worldwide , threatening the civilization as a whole, Dr. Suryakant Tripathi, in the lecture on ‘Drug-resistant TB Is a Man Made Problem�? throws in a flight on the disease, why it has become drug resistant and it’s possible fallout in future.There after the lecture was given by the Mentor Dr. A.K. Saxena, Ex Deputy Director of CDRI Lucknow. His lecture was on ‘Drug Discovery and Development�?/b>. He explained how the new drugs are discovered and their development in laboratory and after development, drugs are tested and launched. The whole process from discovery, preclinical testing from different perspectives reviewing by FDA and having approved the drug by FDA and how the product is ready to launch in the market, the whole process was explained with the help of slide at length.The 2nd lecture by the mentor Dr. Tumul Singh, Asst. Prof. of Zoology, Department of Zoology, U. P. College, Varanasi was based on ‘Biotechnology and Human Welfare �?/b>. She explained about Biotechnology and different scope to bring improvement in almost every useful area for human beings. She motivated the students to take up the career in Biotechnology as the horizon of Biotechnology is vast and wide. She gave ample of example of plants and animal where Biotechnology can bring very positive changes in peculiar feature of any existence.The experiments in the lab were held under the guidance of the mentors followed by group discussions on the different themes of science. All the participants interacted with the mentors and gained real experience and knowledge. The students participated with full zeal and enthusiasm.
4th DAY OF THE PROGRAMME �?5th JULY
Regional Science City Activities
On 5th of July the programme was organised at Regional Science City . The programme commenced with the lecture of the mentor Dr. Neelam S. Sangwan, the Deputy Director, CIMAP Lucknow . She delivered her lecture on the topic ‘Century of Biotechnology�?/b>. She gave the knowledge about the biotechnology to the students. She gave a wonderful pictorial PPT with all the graphic presentation using the gimmicks of multimedia and how the use of Biotechnology as a magic wand can change the natural products and can bring valuable ingredients in plants and how can Biotechnology change a natural product in a better product of utility for human beings. She gave interesting example of mice and the first clone ‘Dolly�?and the extract ‘Biodiesel�?from plants and so on.Further the chain of programme was carried by the lecture of our special guest Prof. A.K. Sharma, Prof. in Zoology, University of Lucknow. He delivered his lecture on the topic ‘Journey Beyond Books�?/b>. He motivated the students and put forth the fact that there is a wonderful knowledge even beyond the books. So they should try to become explorer instead of book worm. He insisted on 7 Cs of Communication i.e. Clear, Concise, Correct, Complete, Concrete, Courteous, Comprehensive. The person who follows all the skills will always get success in this communication era.Next lecture was given by the mentor Dr. Vibhuti Rai, Chairman Research Council, Lucknow University. He made the students aware of Social Geology. He apprised the students of the use of Petroleum in daily use items like Deodorant, Lipsticks, Hair colouring, Pillows, Crayons etc. and other items like Vitamin Capsules, Heart valves, Anaesthetics, Cortisone etc. Further he told about the fossils science and very interestingly he explained about the existence of Dinosaurs. The whole auditorium was very excited to know about Gems and the excitement was at peak when he distributed the Gems amongst the students.
Later the students enjoyed the 3D show and SCIMAX show on ‘The great Canyon Adventure�? The students performed and observed various experiments of different streams of science under the guidance of all the mentors while visiting the galleries of Science Park.The last lecture was given by the mentor Dr. D. Kar Chaudhary, Scientist IITR, Lucknow. He delivered lecture on the topic ‘Model Organism and their Application in Biological Research�?/b>. He made the students aware of the cell and its processes like Cell division, Cell Cycle, Cell Death, DNA and Protein Breakdown, Pathways of Apoptosis, Mutation etc.At last Super Cool Show was organised to make students aware about the properties of Liquid Nitrogen by showing some experiments on leaf and balloons.
LAST DAY OF THE PROGRAMME �?6th JULY
On 6th day of July- The programme was commenced by the lecture of the mentor Dr. Madhu G. Tapadia , Dept. of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University. She delivered her lecture on the topic, ‘Chromosomal Changes in Human�? She explained about human cell , Nucleus, chromosomes. Further she explained how hereditary characters are affected by genes and she depicted the fact that how can we monitor the destructive and harmful effect of genes and how to control harmful diseases caused by genetic mutation.Thereafter the lecture was given by the mentor Prof. S. K. Trigun, Biochemistry Section, Dept. of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University. He delivered his lecture on the topic ‘Exploring Life Death, Indian Culture and Happiness: Careers Opportunity in Life Sciences�?/b> . He made the students aware of the chromosomes and help them in understanding life in molecular terms.The experiments in the lab were held under the guidance of the mentors followed by group discussions on the different themes of science. All the participants interacted with the mentors and gained real experience and knowledge. This was the most enthusiastic session of the day. Online experiments were also shown.
FELICITATION FUNCTION OF DST INSPIRE PROGRAMME
All the participants presented some or the other programme on the closing ceremony of DST INSPIRE Programme. The report of 5 days camp was presented by Asst. Director Dr. Manju Anand, convener of DST INSPIRE Programme. Mr. R.U. Shukla, Principal of Dayanand Inter College, The Ex. Secretary of UP Board Schools was invited as the special guest to felicitate the participants an inspiring speech was also delivered by our special guest.Further prize distribution ceremony was organised. The deserving students were given away certificate and prizes by our special guest R.U. Shukla.Further prize distribution ceremony was organised. The deserving students were given away certificate and prizes by our special guest R.U. Shukla.On the whole the Moto of DST Inspire Programme was achieved and it ended with the huge success.