A Year Full of Achievements for Science City

Kapurthala, December 19, 2016: The year 2016 has been full of achievements for Science City. Adding feather to its cap, PGSC was conferred with National award for outstanding efforts in Science & Technology Communication for promotion of scientific temper among masses in the last five years.
The second major achievement of PGSC had been launch of Mukh Mantri Vigyan Yatra by Chief Minister Punjab, Sh.Parkash Singh Badal on February 18, 2016 wherein more than one lac students all over the state from Government schools got an opportunity to visit Science City. Under this scheme, 4.50 lac students would be visiting Science City every year. Further, PGSC has got an overwhelming response from its visitors as it received more than three lac visitors till December 2016 including students from ITIs, Higher Education, Engineering, Polytechnic and Nursing Colleges. These were the views expressed by Dr. Rajesh Grover, Director Science City.
He informed that a new gallery named “Birds Gallery” was set up at Science City. The gallery is of special importance to Punjab as the state is a home to a large number of migratory and resident birds in its various natural and man- made wetlands. The gallery captures the diversity of birds including the State and National birds. A large Banyan having birdsspecies of Punjab mounted on it with sound and visual effects is the main attraction of this gallery. Around the tree a diorama consisting of variety of flora and fauna commonly available in wetlands of Punjab has been set up.
He further added that Eco-friendly battery operated trackless train was also introduced at Science City so as to enable its visitors to enjoy the scenic beauty of Science City as well as appreciate importance of renewable energy sources to save the environment.
He mentioned that to develop the culture of innovation and creativity at the grass root level, PGSC is running the project “Regional Incubation Science Hub for Innovators”. The project has provided a platform to give practical shape to their innovative ideas of the young minds. The project has also been adjudged amongst the top 100 projects of the country and conferred with SKOCH Order of Merit Award 2016. Further, Science City has not confined its boundaries to inculcate scientific temper at PGSC only but has also extended its outreach through Mobile Science Exhibition to the door steps of the rural masses with special focus on Govt. schools. The Mobile Science Exhibition bus has covered all the districts of the state and more than two lac visitors have visited this mobile exhibition.
Talking about the new attractions and facilities of Science City in the New Year, Dr. Grover informed that a new dome movie "America Wild: National Park Adventure" would be screened in the Space Theater. A gallery on innovation Hub will also be set up in the year 2017. Innovation Hub will provide a platform for schools, colleges and society to develop their problem solving skills and bring joy to learning. The gallery will be covering four segments:
Innovation Resource Centre will be developed to showcase innovative ideas /products /implements / models of appropriate technologies that have transformed our world or could make significant impact on the way we conductour lives along with respective inventors & innovators with special focus in the areas of Agriculture, Energy, Transport, Education etc.
Innovation lab will offer necessary basic facilities to pursue creative and innovative activities students will learnto do things with their own hands, dismantle, reassemble and remake devices/gadgets. Students will learn more bydoing things practically using day to day scrap.
Design Studio : The studio will offer creative environment to the young innovators to work on new designs of various objects/ products.
Dr. Grover further informed that a Skill Development Center under the Skill Development Initiative scheme of GoI will also be made operational at Science City in the approaching year to impart technical skills among the unemployed youth in the field Domestic Electric Wiring, Repair and Maintenance of Electric Appliances, Repair and Maintenance of Window or Split AC, ARC and Gas welding.