Mysuru: NITI Aayog has come up with three new initiatives to encourage and foster innovation. It has launched an initiative aimed at establishing 500 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in schools across India and 100 Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) in both academic and non-academic space.
The main objective of setting up of these laboratories is to create scientific temper and cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation among young minds. ATL is a workspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands-on do-it-yourself mode and learn innovation skills.
In the first phase, about 267 schools in India have been selected for the establishment of the ATL and Kautilya Vidyalaya is the only school in Mysuru to be selected for this.
A group of children from Kautilya Vidyalaya are seen examining a model that depicts renewable
energy set up as part of the science exhibition to be held on Sept. 12.
The inauguration ceremony of Atal Tinkering Laboratory will be held on Sept. 12 at Kautilya Vidyalaya at 10.30 am. Padma Bhushan B.N. Suresh, Former Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and President, Indian National Academy of Engineering will inaugurate the lab. Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep will be the Chief Guest. The event will be presided over by R. Raghu, Chairman of Kautilya Vidyalaya.
SCIENCE FEST
The school will organise a science festival to coincide with the inauguration of the Laboratory in a bid to realise the goal of developing scientific attitude among students and to take learning experience beyond text books and syllabus.
A teacher demonstrates a Science model to students.
The exhibition will feature plasticised organs of human body, listing its vital functions where Prof. Shyam Sundar, Professor of Anatomy, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, will exhibit and explain the organs. Exclusive sections on Ayurveda, industrial revolution, innovations in terms of technology, revolutionary changes in modern life brought in by telecommunication, television, computers, mobiles, smart phones, robots etc., will be set up.
JOURNEY TOWARDS ESTABLISHING ATL
According to Dr. L. Savitha, Principal of Kautilya Vidyalaya, the idea of establishing Atal Tinkering Laboratory at the school was conceptualised when the initiative of the NDA government was published and the process of applying for the same as per guidelines was started.
The application duly completed in all respects with the amenities available at the institution and the reason why we should be considered for allotment of the lab was submitted during September last year.
“We were invited for a seminar to present innovative ideas in a competition. A team of students was sent to Hyderabad and innovative ideas were presented with models. There was a stiff competition and finally about 267 schools were selected in the first phase,” she said.
In May 2017, the NITI Aayog released Rs.12 lakh to establish ATL and the process of its setting up began with furniture, fittings, equipment, tools and other gadgets as per the guidelines provided by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Once the lab becomes fully functional, students will be trained to use the facilities in the lab to develop skills and competencies which will enable them to become young innovators, she said.
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