Mysuru: Students should eschew rote learning and instead come forward to learn Science through experiments, said former University of Mysore Vice-Chancellor Prof. J. Shashidhar Prasad.

He was speaking after inaugurating a six-day workshop on ‘Science Model Building Programme-2019,’ organised by the Committee for Development of Science in Schools (CDSS) at Vijnana Bhavan in Manasagangothri campus, here on Monday and said that Science and Technology are complementary to one another.

This aspect cannot be learned by by-hearting (memorising). Only when one involves oneself in more and more experiments then a meaningful Science can be learned. Science plays an important role in one’s life, he said.

The CDSS was the brainchild of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi, who realised the importance of Science and technology and introduced it among school children to inculcate love for Science among them. This was at a time when there were only two career options being thought of either becoming an engineer or a doctor, said Prof. Prasad.

He also pointed out to the rapid strides China was making in Science and Technology and said that India’s neighbour had been successful in overtaking America.

Kuvempu University former Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. Venkataramaiah said that every student has some talents. Hence, a proper atmosphere must be created to tap such talents.

The students must come forward to experiment one’s thought process. Once, he or she becomes confident of one’s experiments then one should be ready to show them in any forum, he said encouraging the students.

A total of 35 students belonging to classes eight, nine and SSLC from different high schools in the city are participating in the workshop. They will be taught Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany and Mathematics, he said.

CDSS Member Dr. Bhagyalakshmi said that the students must make all efforts to be a part of the workshop, learn properly and see that they achieve something in life.