Tirupati: Kids science congress to focus on 'sustainable living'

Tirupati: Adopting the process of learning through doing among children, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), department of science and technology (DST) along with AP Council of Science and Technology (APCOST) is organising National Children's Science Congress every year. It helps children to carry out small research activities at the micro level, which can inculcate their scientific thinking.

While bringing out the creativity among children, this major event will make them carry out the research activity in their neighbourhood finding out solutions for local issues. In view of the Covid-19 norms and the safety of children, this year the science congress will be organised online both at district and state levels and the guidelines were issued accordingly.

This year 'Science for Sustainable Living' was chosen as the focal theme under which five sub themes are given. They are: Eco system for sustainable living, appropriate technology for sustainable living, social innovation for sustainable living, design, development and modelling for sustainable living and traditional knowledge system (TKS) for sustainable living.

The district coordinator of National Children's Science Congress P Neelakanta told The Hans India that district level event may be held online before December 25 for which the registration process is underway. In view of the Covid pandemic, APCOST member secretary Dr Y Aparna has suggested that the projects should be research oriented instead of field oriented.

One or two students can prepare a project under any of the sub themes with the help of a guide teacher and prepare a report. Those studying class VI to X are eligible to take part and each school can submit as many projects as they wish.

The participants should upload their project model in the form of video or powerpoint presentation and need to login through the phone of their guide teachers to explain it before judges. The best 10 projects selected by the judges will be selected for the state level competition, which will be held before January 15, and the best projects there will be chosen for national level event.