Science contact programme begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 01 2011: A ten-day long 'contact programme for talented SC & ST girl students' has been inaugurated today with the formal launch of the event held at the Training Hall of Directorate of Art and Culture, Palace Compound wherein MASTEC Executive Director Th Surendranath and Prof N Rajmuhon Singh of Department of Chemistry, Manipur University graced the occasion as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

In all 30 girl students from six educational institutions are taking part in the Contact programme is during which the participants would visit various laboratories and meet scientists of numerous institutions such as Central Agricultural University, Manipur Institute of Technology, Regional TASAR research Station, NEIST (formerly RRL), Seismic observatory, remote sensing & GIS lab, labs of Physics, Earth Sciences, chemistry of MU and DOEACC Centre, Akampat.

Interaction sessions with distinguished scientists, science elocution on related topics, popular science talk, hands on project, etc will also organised for the participants, belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities of Manipur.

These girls students are picked up from HM Hr Secondary School (Keithelmanbi, Sadar Hills), LA English School (Ukhrul), Don Bosco High School (Phayeng, Imphal West), Vale Academy (Ghari), Victory High School (Kakching) and Chil Chil Asian Mission School (Kanglatongbi) .

The event, in its fifth year, is being organised by Manipur Science and Technology Council, Imphal with the support of NCSTC, Dept of Science and Technology, Govt of India.

In his address, Prof Rajmuhon exhorted the girl students to concentrate on science studies as advancement in science is being accorded top priority by the Government as an inevitable component of women's empowerment.

Noting that earlier trend of girl students reluctant to sustain interest in science studies have undergone tremendous changes which is evident from the fact that girls have been coming out with flying colours in important examinations, Prof Rajmuhon also highlighted that presently there are about 40 female scholar scientists in Manipur University with half of them from within the State.

Further stating that scholar amount of Rs 35,000 a month is being provided to these scholar scientists, he called upon the participants to dispel the concept that family obligation after marriage would impede a girl student from continuing higher studies or involvement in science related research works.

speaking at the occasion, Prof L somorjit of Imphal College regretted that inspite of excelling in class X and XII examinations there are not many female candidates who nurtured such a talent in latter stage of their life, especially in the field of education.

He also exuded confidence that through proper guidance and management of girl students with scientific temperament the society would certainly reap in the benefit in the future.

MASTEC Director Th Surendranath and Dr Brajamani of MU's Physics department also called upon the participants to strive for excellence by expand their knowledge base during the 10 day programme.

Comment