A day long exposure to innovative ideas
IN A FIRST of its kind camp, the SRM University Delhi-ncr, Sonepat (Haryana), organized a one-day Innovation Exposure Camp on July 21. The camp was sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, inaugurated by Prof AK Bhatnagar, former Head, Department of Botany, University of Delhi and presided over by Dr P. Prakash,vice Chancellor.
This is the first camp organized by the University to promote RISHI (Regional Innovation Science Hubs for Innovators) Programme, which was envisioned, initiated and launched by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. More than 325 who are from the classes IX, X, XI and XII with science subjects from Delhi-ncr along with twenty five teachers participated in the camp.
After the invocation and lamplighting, Dr D.K. Pandey, the Director of Innovations (IEEEP), not only welcomed but also emphasized the purpose of the camp, and eulogized the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for conceptualizing and implementing such a programme throughout the country. Encouraging the students and teachers for their unswerving interest in attending the camp, he explained how this science camp gives an opportunity to the young minds to experience the thrill of creativity, innovation and imagination.
Dr P. Prakash, Vice Chancellor, SRM University Delhi-ncr, explicated the need of innovation among young and vibrant people, particularly students and teachers, and advocated that it must be inculcated at ‘less cost and more comfort.’ He reminded the audience that though there was repulsion among the transport operators in Delhi for the conversion of fuel engine into CNG – based on the recommendations of Prof Mashalkar, the then Director General of CSIR, Science and Technology – over a period of time, the city realized the urgent need of conversion of engines to control pollution.
Prof Bhatnagar, the Chief Guest, vocalized the study and research options available for young students, such as, space research, energy, and pharmaceuticals, and inspired the students for developing an independent idea, experimenting and testing to get data.
Dr G. J. Samathanam, Director of Research, explained how much capability the Innovation Exposure Camp has to uphold the tradition of science in our country and motivated the participants to emulate hard work, and exposed that even though many people try, very few could achieve the goal.