Report of Second Inspire Internship science camp at NIT Srinagar from 19-23 May 2012

The   five day Inspire science camp at National Institute of Technology Srinagar was held from 19-23 May, 2012 for the brilliant students of the valley. This time, about five hundred students from various schools of the valley participated in the camp.

The camp is supported by DST and the Inspire program launched by the hon’ble Prime Minister of India has unique objective to motivate the youth of the country towards excitements of creative pursuit of science. The other goals of camp are to attract talent to the study of science at an early age and thus build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science & Technology system and Research & Development base.

The camp was inaugurated on 19th May by Chairman, Board of Governers NIT Srinagar Janab Wajahat Habibullah. During inaugural session a special envelope on NIT was issued by department of post. The CPMG Jammu and Kashmir circle Mr John Samuel inaugurated a scientific philately exhibition on the occasion. During Inspire science camp several mentors from state and outside state were invited to interact with the students.  The first technical session began with a talk on ‘Remarkable scientists an engineer of India’ by Dr Seemin Rubab, the co-convener of the program. The other talks on first day were delivered by Dr Sunil Wanchoo of SMVDU  on ICT and Dr GM Malik Rector of Badarwah campus, Jammu university on Geology. Several mentors deliberated on Architechture, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biological sciences. Mohammed Jawaid Alam an entrepreneur conducted workshop on Hydroponics and Mr VSS Sastry conducted workshop on Mathematics through Origami. Workshop on “Day time Astronomy” and safe viewing of Transit of Venus and eclipses was conducted by Dr Vivek Monteiro and Dr. T.V. Venkateswaran from Vigyan Prasar. The talk on Advances in surgical sciences with particular reference to Laparoscopic techniques by renowned surgeon Dr Mushtaq Chalkoo was most inspiring for the students. Apart from showing some video clips on surgery, Dr Chalkoo enthralled audience with his anecdotes and poetry. The presentation on conservation of Heritage Buildings of Kashmir by Mr.  Saleem Beg, Convener INTACH, Jammu and Kashmir was most stimulating. Noted author of popular science and  former editor of Science Reporter Mr Biman Basu also interacted with students. Female scientists and science communicators like Dr Gopi Sharma, Dr Ranjani, Dr Kausar  and Architect Mona Chandra were very effective and popular among the students. The  deliberations on career choices by Dr. Rubab, Dr Maruf Shah, Syed Abid Shah (IAS) and Engineer Omar were informative and thought provoking during valedictory session. The students also appreciated the musical program presented by expressions and space communications group. The members from environmental group ‘Change Kashmir’ and Recycling Kashmir also interacted with students during the camp.