Mysuru:  “The Committee for Development of Science in Schools (CDSS) is doing great work to promote and create awareness among high school students and hence the understanding regarding science is going up,” said Karnataka State Science and Technology Academy Chairman and former Director of U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) Dr. S.K. Shivkumar.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 2018-19 Science Programmes and Mobile Science Laboratory with ‘Light’ as the theme organised by CDSS, University of Mysore and Excel Trust at the Government High School, Hootagalli, here yesterday and said it is very important to kindle the curiosity of students to see that they evoke interest in basic science.

There are no lab facilities in most of the Government High Schools and as such mobile science labs like this play a key role in arousing interest among the students with respect to science. Moreover, most of the students want to pursue only professional courses like engineering and medicine, whereas subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Biology are ignored. It is only because of scientific research that the country can move forward, he noted.

The two-day event has experts like Dr. G.R. Janardhan and Dr. D. Krishnan and resource persons V. Shilpa, Shankar, Anushree and others involved in demonstration and lecture classes.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University and Schools Science Development Committee Chairman Prof. P. Venkatramaiah also spoke. Prof. K.A. Raveesha welcomed.

University of Mysore Registrar Prof. R. Rajanna, Department of Education Joint Director M.P. Madegowda, Hootagalli Government High School Head Mistress Sangeetha and others were present on the occasion.  The mobile lab displays electronic system, electro magnetic spectrum, solar cell cooker, photo sensor with control valves, pinhole camera, telescope, spectrum of light using a prism, refractory rating and other gadgets.