A visit to  Pushpa Gujral Sciennce City

Dr Seemin Rubab

 AP, Physics, NIT, Srinagar

ask_rubab@yahoo.co.in

Much of the science we read in book is hard to imagine.  Imagining atomic structure, DNA  structure, tetrahederal carbon molecules, nuclear reactors, volcanoes, earthquakes etc. requires very fertile and creative minds. Science museums,  centres and science cities help in constructing complex ideas and explaining them through working models.  Exhibits of science museums are unique resources for non formal education. There are science museums in almost all states except Jammu and Kashmir. Pushpa Gujral Science city (PGSC) is situated on Jullandhur Kapurthala Road in Punjab. It is the nearest science city from Kashmir. It is connected to Jammu by train. It is open from 9 to 5 throughout year. Parents are requested to take their ward to PGSC during winter vacation instead of forcing them for tuitions. Visit to science city is a great learning experience for children and adults alike. What a child learns in one day is more than reading several text books throughout year. Children may be left there to explore, understand, and enjoy. It is in fact a family destination. There is lot of fun, amusement and excitement.   In Pushpa  Gujral Science City  models related to physics, astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, biology, health sciences, agriculture, geology, paleontology, Information technology, space technology, industry and industrial development etc. are displayed. The exhibits belong to three categories- passive, active and interactive. Passive exhibits include artifacts, graphics and  other visuals. Active exhibits can be operated by visitors with mechanical drive. Interactive exhibits are those which are operated by visitors on their own choice involving multiplicity of options. Some people prefer  interactive exhibits based on problem solving approach.    The main aim of PGSC  is to popularize science. It has become centre of entertainment and amusement apart from being a place of learning. It has something for everyone regardless of age or education. Science city organizes  summer camps for students and teachers. Days like World Environment day, Earth day, National Science day are observed.  On these days children are invited  from schools and popular talks and quizzes are organized.

 PGSC  has  big parks with outdoor exhibits like  sundial, swings and seesaw which children enjoy a lot. One can enjoy by observing time on sundial which consists of a pole pointing towards pole star at an inclination of Kapurthala’s latitude.  Me and my daughter visited explorium, science voyage, Planatarium, Laser show, Energy park, dinosaur park, cactus park, lake and Panaorama etc. In explorium, a majestic Focult’s pendulum caught my attention. The plane of pendulum’s swing shifts clockwise due to diurnal spin of earth.  The other attraction were Jacob’s ladder, Power transmission mechanism, Concept of Curie point in ferromagnets, Motion of straight line through hyperbola and illusion of ring.  The display on simple machines was also interesting. Ancient structures like pyramids were built using simple machines.  In planetarium, the show was on origin of universe. The dome shape  theatre was a delight to watch. The cruise through stars, galaxy and black hole was scary as well as exciting. In science voyage we experienced flight simulator. There was Einstein gallery and display on chandrayan, Agni mission, satellites, scientific philately museum.  We enjoyed laser show and 3D theatre very much. The ride through Vortex was scary. For sports lovers there is science of sports gallery. The amazing living machine gallery was very interesting.  The giant walk through beating Heart Model of 12 feet tall demonstrates the working of circulatory system while visitors walk through it.

The boating in an annular lake around dinosaur park was challenging. In dinosaur park all sorts of dinos were there.  It shows the Evolution of dinosaurs on earth and also some of the probable reasons of their extinction. Dinosaur Park has been divided in three periods: Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous. Twenty six   different types of Dinosaurs have been shown by 45 different dinosaur models in their natural habitat. Starting from the smallest known dinosaur “Compsognathus”, to the giant dinosaurs like “Seismosaurus” of Jurassic period and “Argentinosaurus” of Cretaceous period have been shown.   Plants like Araucaria, Cycads, Palms and Ferns also resemble the plantation of that era. Even the rock models represent the structure of rocks of that era. 

 The panorama was a delight to watch. It depicted the journey of homo sapiens from origin of life to present age.  From fire making, to burial of dead, discovery of wheel, cave painting and tool making showed the social and intellectual evolution of humans. What one can experience in half an hour of walk through the panels is worth reading several books on the topic.

One can make a virtual visit to the city through http://www.pgsciencecity.org/