100 HS Sc students trained for research

GUWAHATI, May 26: “It was indeed an inspiring camp for us. In the last five days I have earned interest and some sort of confidence to take up a career in scientific research. Now I am clear about my aim in life”, said Asani Wilson Asoya from St. Edmund’s HS School, Shillong.

In the same tune, Paleen Bose from Cotton University, Guwahati too said, “Though the normal perception of becoming a doctor or an engineer after pursuing science in academics is slowly coming down, a career as a scientist is rarely advised by our elders as it is presumed to be the domain of the genius ones. However, this notion has been changed from my mind after actively participating in the DST INSPIRE Camp here”.

Hundred meritorious science students from different schools and colleges belonging to Meghalaya and Assam participated in the five-day-long residential Internship Camp which was concluded on Friday, May 25. The objective of the camp was to give serious effort to make science appealing to students so that the aspirants can hone a career in scientific research.

A number of eminent scientists and professors from reputed institutions imparted training in different sessions in the camp. The resource persons include Prof A.K. Paul, Department of Biology, University of Calcutta; Prof Saurabh Basu, Department of Physics, IIT Guwahati, Prof Ranjan Basu, Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta; Dr P. Nongkynri, Department of Physics, NEHU; Dr S. Borkotokey, Department of Mathematics, Dibrugarh University; and a few others.

An exposure visit of the participating students to IIT Guwahati was also organized where they explored several research laboratories under the departments of Physics, Chemistry and Biology and interacted with faculty members and scientific officers. This has been a unique opportunity for the students that motivated them and gave them an insight to take up research as a career.