A giant leap for Kochi school

Updated on: Thursday, December 22, 2011

Haven’t seen a real rocket in the ball park? Don’t worry. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will set up a space lab at a school in North Paravur in Kochi.

Models of space vehicles will be among the various gadgets and equipments to be showcased at the space lab, which the officials are hoping to set up by next year.

“The space lab will most probably come up at the Government Higher Secondary School, North Paravur. The ISRO and VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) will together set up the models, which will be brought here in parts and then assembled. The installation cost alone is expected to be Rs10 lakh,” V.D. Satheeshan, MLA of Paravur, told Deccan Chronicle.

He is planning to have talks with a team of VSSC officers, including Scientific Officer V.P.

Balagangadharan, on Friday to work out the details. “They want to establish the lab at the earliest. They will specify the requirements, including the infrastructure, and we’ll try to arrange them at the earliest,” Satheeshan said.

The teachers and students of the GHSS, North Paravur, are thrilled to learn that the facility will soon come up at their campus. “Our students are eagerly waiting to see the rocket. We are also looking forward to interact with the ISRO and VSSC scientists. The initiative will go a long way in popularising science. Thanks to the interest shown by the MLA,” Annie Deleela, Principal, GHHS, N Paravur, said.

A few of the noted scientists, including ISRO chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan, would visit some of the 21 schools in the constituency and take classes for the children.

Already, a select group of 104 students have visited the VSSC centre in Thumba and defence organisations, said CUSAT professor Vijayakumar Ambat, who is also associated with the project.
It is part of the ‘Sasthrayaan’ (science craft) project, the first phase of which has been completed. Another major step will be the revamp of the science labs of all the 21 schools.

“Many of the existing labs have got outdated material. So besides setting up modern labs for each of the subjects - Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths — the experts will help the schools in safe disposal of outdated substances,” the Satheesan said. In the earlier phase, over 7,000 students of class VIII and IX had got an opportunity to listen to experts.

Satheesan said each school participating in the project will be equipped with a new facility aimed at boosting science education. “This includes a science park, energy park, herbarium, aquarium, butterfly park and astronomy club.”

Also, the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIIT) has been entrusted with the task of developing an interactive portal where model classes by experts will be uploaded.

A community based project will be carried out by each school to find a scientific solution to a local problem.

A giant leap for Kochi school

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