A Correspondent
Tezpur: Students of Class VIII from Don Bosco High School, Silapathar, participated in the 2nd Assam Science Festival organized by Assam Science Technology and Environment Council, (ASTEC) under the aegis of Department of Science and Technology, Government of Assam, hosted by Tezpur University.
"We are excited to be here in Tezpur University and eagerly waiting to participate in different science programmes such as demonstration of sky observation techniques and science quiz," said Udit Chauhan, a Computer Science and Engineering student representing Kaziranga University.
The three-day Science Festival, which kick-started from Saturday, saw enthusiastic participation of various institutions like CSIR-NEIST, Assam Science Society, Institution of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), North Eastern Space Applications Centre and Kaziranga University.
Aryabhatta Science Centres from different districts of the State also participated in the fest, besides many schools of Sonitpur district.
"I am glad this is called a festival because science and scientific experiments should be enjoyed and celebrated as festivals," remarked Prof Sourav Pal, Director, IISER Kolkata and chief guest of the inaugural function which took place at the KBR auditorium of the university on Saturday.
"Many innovations are results of accident, some are due to necessity and some discoveries happen due to dreams, but mostly discoveries and innovations happen due to curiosity," Prof Pal said. He emphasized that in science one should always ask questions and opined that there was nothing called a stupid question. While urging the students to dream science, Prof Pal observed that the world was changing rapidly and to accommodate game-changing ideas, the educational institutions and teachers needed to adapt new thoughts.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Arup Kumar Misra, Director of ASTEC, hoped that the festival would encourage young students to opt for science as a career and carry forward the good works of other distinguished scientists such as Bhupendra Nath Goswami, who is known for studies on Indian monsoon dynamics.
Addressing as the guest of honour, Hemen Das, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Assam, urged the institutions to promote indigenous technologies. Apart from exhibition, the festival will host various activities in the next three days such as science lectures by noted scientists, scientific art competition and demonstration, wildlife photography and mobile planetarium.
Also read: Assam news