Chemistry camp begins at Rajiv Gandhi University

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: A three-day residential chemistry camp began on Tuesday at Rajiv Gandhi University in Doimukh, near here for children of class IX, which aims to inspire young minds to develop interest in chemical sciences.

Popularly known as Salters’ Chemistry Camps, it is being jointly organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry India, Salters’ Institute UK and RGU. The camp activities are conducted in Hindi language, a press release informed.

Seventy school students from various parts of Papumpare district including Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Doimukh are taking part in the programme which would infuse fun in learning chemistry and motivate students to develop both awareness and long-term interest in chemical sciences. The Salters’ Chemistry Camps India, part of the “Inspirational Chemistry Programme” project in India, has been supported by Dr Yusuf Hamied (Non-executive Chairman- Cipla Limited) a leading Indian philanthropist and pioneer in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Hamied has committed to sponsor an amount of Rs 8 crore for this five-year programme which includes training school science teachers as well.

T his is the first chemistry camp being conducted in Arunachal Pradesh. In total, twenty three Salters’ Chemistry camps training covering 1,300 students from over 400 schools across 14 States have been completed, since the launch of this programme in 2015.

Professor John Holman, chairman of Salters’ Institute and past president of the Royal Society of Chemistry in his deliberation said the Salters’ Chemistry Camps have been very successful in the UK as a way of sparking interest and enthusiasm among young people for the future study of chemistry.

“The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Salters’ Institute are pleased to have this opportunity to extend the Salters Camps’ concept to India. We are most grateful to Dr Yusuf Hamied for his generosity in making this programme possible,” he said.

RGU vice-chancellor Prof Saket Kushwaha expressed happiness over RGU’s association with the Royal Society of Chemistry and Salters’ Institute.

“I am delighted to learn that Salters’ Chemistry Camp is being organised at RGU in collaboration with The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) and Salters’ Institute. This camp is aimed at reaching out to the less privileged but bright young minds of our society who have zeal to learn and know key scientific concepts through wonderful and magical world of chemistry,” Prof Kushwaha said.

“The camp will help in developing the scientific temperament of such students and they will get hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art chemistry labs. They will also receive a flavor of campus life as they will be residing in the students’ hostels during the entire duration of the program. I am sure the Salters Chemistry camp will create a knowledge-fuelled environment to provide an opportunity to the students and inspire them to pursue chemistry at university level,” the VC said.

Inaugurating the camp at RGU assistant professor of chemistry Dr Harunar Rashid said the students should make best of this opportunity to interact with scientists from the RGU to learn more about science.

Dr Rashid is the chief coordinator in organising the Salters’ Chemistry Camp, which provides exciting chemical demonstrations, the chance to meet like-minded students, and a taste of hostel life inside the campus, the release added.

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