Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that more than 500 lectures and events will be held by scientists and faculty members of higher education in Goa for 75,000 school and college students and the general public from January 12 for 45 days.
Sawant said that the programme Vigyan Dhara wants to dispel myths and create a liking in students about STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
He also said that the state government wants to open at least once STEM laboratory in schools in each taluka.
“Through Vigyan Dhara, we are laying the foundation to create a scientific temperament. We will see the results in 7-8 years. Last year, more than 30,000 students had participated in the event. No programme of this scale has ever been held. And this year, we are targeting more than 500 lectures at different levels for school and college students and the general public. We are trying to create a liking in students for STEM,” said Sawant.
Recently, the STEM lab at government primary school at Housing Board, Harvalem was opened with this aim, he said.
“I was myself surprised at how innovative it is. In future, we will see that students are no more afraid of science and mathematics, right from the primary level. Recently, a student who secured 87% marks at Class X, told me she wants to pursue nursing programme but has taken admission in the arts stream due to lack of awareness and also due to a fear of science. If teachers cannot remove such fear for science then such STEM labs can,” Sawant said.
He said it will be seen that students engage at the STEM labs at least once a week once they are opened in every taluka.
“We have also opened a skill library at Government College, Sanquelim. We have got books from ISRO and from the major publication house Penguin on different skills. The library is the first of its kind and open to all to register and visit,” Sawant said.
Vigyan Dhara 2024 is third edition of the science series, an initiative of the directorate of higher education and the Goa State Higher Education Council.
“It is a transformative platform for scientific exploration and learning,” Sawant said.
This event aims to ignite scientific spirit in 75,000 young individuals in Goa through 500 events from January 12 to February 28. We start on January 12 as it is National Youth Day. It culminates on National Science Day on February 28 that is celebrated to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect,” the CM said.
It is a first of its kind event in Goa where higher education faculty and scientists from national institutes interact with schools and college students through public lectures, talks, and demonstrations.
Sawant said that the programme Vigyan Dhara wants to dispel myths and create a liking in students about STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
He also said that the state government wants to open at least once STEM laboratory in schools in each taluka.
“Through Vigyan Dhara, we are laying the foundation to create a scientific temperament. We will see the results in 7-8 years. Last year, more than 30,000 students had participated in the event. No programme of this scale has ever been held. And this year, we are targeting more than 500 lectures at different levels for school and college students and the general public. We are trying to create a liking in students for STEM,” said Sawant.
Recently, the STEM lab at government primary school at Housing Board, Harvalem was opened with this aim, he said.
“I was myself surprised at how innovative it is. In future, we will see that students are no more afraid of science and mathematics, right from the primary level. Recently, a student who secured 87% marks at Class X, told me she wants to pursue nursing programme but has taken admission in the arts stream due to lack of awareness and also due to a fear of science. If teachers cannot remove such fear for science then such STEM labs can,” Sawant said.
He said it will be seen that students engage at the STEM labs at least once a week once they are opened in every taluka.
“We have also opened a skill library at Government College, Sanquelim. We have got books from ISRO and from the major publication house Penguin on different skills. The library is the first of its kind and open to all to register and visit,” Sawant said.
Vigyan Dhara 2024 is third edition of the science series, an initiative of the directorate of higher education and the Goa State Higher Education Council.
“It is a transformative platform for scientific exploration and learning,” Sawant said.
This event aims to ignite scientific spirit in 75,000 young individuals in Goa through 500 events from January 12 to February 28. We start on January 12 as it is National Youth Day. It culminates on National Science Day on February 28 that is celebrated to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect,” the CM said.
It is a first of its kind event in Goa where higher education faculty and scientists from national institutes interact with schools and college students through public lectures, talks, and demonstrations.