Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research
(INSPIRE) is a programme by the
Department of Science and Technology for attraction of talent to study science
and opt careers with research. The motivation behind INSPIRE is to enlarge the
pool of scientific human power and foster research in the basic and applied sciences.
The Scheme includes three sub-components viz., Scheme for Early
Attraction of Talent (SEATS), Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) and
Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC). As one sub components of
SEATS, Summer/winter camps for about 50,000 youth are being organised
throughout India in which students interact with global science
leaders. Summer/Winter Camps are organized for age group 16 – 17 years,
Class XI students. NIT Srinagar has been regularly organizing Inspire science
camps since March 2012.
The fourth Inspire Science camp was
organized from 21-25 November 2013. Three hundred meritorious students from all
over the valley of Kashmir participated in the camp. The inaugural session of
the camp began with an introduction of the Institute by Prof. G A Hermain, Dean
R&D and chairman Inspire Camp. The director NIT, Prof. Rajat Gupta
elaborated on the genesis of Inspire programme. Prof. Gupta urged the young
participants to undertake research in future on contemporary issues such as
solar power, climate, environment, wildlife conservation, eradication of
epidemic and diseases etc. Many
renowned scientists, academician hands on experts interacted with students
during the camp. Prof N Vijayan of NPL, New Delhi talked about fascinations of
crystallography. He deliberated on various methods of crystal growth,
applications and device fabrication. He also displayed many beautiful crystals.
Prof Fozia Qazi of Islamic University of Science and technology had a very
interesting talk on ‘Thinking Outside the Four Dimensional Box’. The
talk explained how some of the most fascinating and abstract questions of
mathematics can be answered in creative ways by discovering patterns and using
one's imagination. Prof Bashir Mir of NIT Srinagar deliberated on Role of Soil
Science in engineering practice. Prof MA Sofi a distinguished mathematician of
the valley deliberated on ‘Mathematics as the art of Explanation’. Prof GA
Hermain, chairman INSPIRE deliberated on ‘Finite element method as tool of Engineering’.
Dr Sameena Muzammil deliberated on Prospects in Biotechnology. Dr Mushtaq
Chalkoo and Dr Rafiq Simanani deliberated on frontiers of surgical sciences. Dr
Kowsar Majeed deliberated on conducting polymers. The members of Wildlife SOS
had a very useful presentation on Human Bear conflict which is a very pertinent
issue in Jammu and Kashmir. The organizer Dr M. A. Shah had a lively
presentation on ‘Nano: The science of small’. There were interesting hands on
session every day after tea break. Dr S. Rubab of Physics department had an
interacting session on Comet ISON and night sky watching. Dr Vipula Abhayankar had
sessions on daytime astronomy which generated enthusiasm among students as well
as their teachers. The hands on sessions by Samar Bagchi, Dr BN Das and Minish
Gulati were most enjoyable. Apart from lectures, the students of the
camp got a chance to visit various labs of NIT Srinagar. They
Participated in science quiz and essay competition. An exhibition of posters on Comet ISON was
organized by Dr Seemin Rubab. During valedictory the participants expressed
their gratitude and satisfaction.
