Former ISRO scientist quits job to start Sunday Science Schools

Updated on: Monday, May 07, 2012

A former ISRO scientist is all set to start 'Sunday Science School' in Karnataka to help children go beyond textbooks, create models and set up laboratories in homes.
 
Aimed at children in the 10-15 year age group, it would run up to 27 Sundays from July this year to February 2013.
 
The brain behind the project is Dr Sujata Virdhe, Director of L Green Ventures, who previously worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for 23 years in the field of satellite power systems, solar energy and indigenisation of electronic components.
 
To start with, the unique schools would be opened in Bangalore, Mysore, Dharwad, Hubli, Mangalore and Udupi.
 
"My heart always wanted to go back to basic sciences. I have taken voluntary retirement (from ISRO) to concentrate on my passion," Sujata, an applied physicist and PhD holder from Pune University, told here.
 
At the Sunday Science Schools, students are taught to make their own projects. At the end of the academic session, each student would have a display of the science models and also a small home laboratory.
 
A range of activities are included to cover energy, solar car, weather magnetism, biology, chemistry, motors, aero-models and astronomy. "We arrange all the material for these workshops," she said. 

Participating students will complete more than 50 activities in a variety of science subjects and make 22 take-home projects in Level-1 of the activity, while Levels 2 and 3 cover the entire range of science topics.
    
Sujata, who has 20 years experience in designing many science education experimentation and 'do-it-yourself' kits for students, said the idea of Sunday Science Schools has been motivated by the fact that 95 per cent of the knowledge learnt by hands-on learning is retained forever in our memory.
 
"We have a good network of passionate science communicators. We are always on the look out for engineers and professionals who are free on weekends and the educated home-makers and samaritans for teaching science," she said. 

Today parents attempting to make their children opt for science subjects are faced with more distractions than ever before. Parents often find it difficult to invest their time in doing projects with children.
 
"Sunday Science School is a meaningful way to sustain children at their creative and logical best selves," Sujata said. "We have been working on hands-on-science for the past 18 years. I have been feeling the need of hands-on science, as I noticed that children are keen to do science activities."
 
The fees would be Rs 5,800 for each level.

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