Two-week Science Academics XLV refresher course in experimental physics

Updated on: Saturday, February 02, 2013

A two-week Science Academics XLV refresher course in experimental physics organised by the department of physics, Christ Church College for science/engineering colleges and university teachers and few B.Sc III and M.Sc I physics students began in association with Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, on Friday.

The course has two purposes. Firstly, it aims at giving an exposure to different varieties of experiments which would develop the experimental skills and the right attitude towards experimental physics. Secondly, it will help those framing the syllabus to induct newer experiments in the curriculum. Discussion of the theory on selected experiments in the areas of thermal physics, mechanics, optics, electricity and magnetism, semiconductor physics and electronics are facilitating the learning process.

The programme started with the lighting of the lamp. Christ Church College principal Pervez E Deen delivered the welcome address. He pointed out that there are aspects of knowledge: effort, experimentation and encouragement.

The main objective of the course was highlighted by its coordinator RK Dwivedi, associate professor, Christ Church College. The course will give the participants an opportunity to have experience around 25 experiments at BSc/MSc level with a kit developed for Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore under the guidance of R Srinivisan. This kit is useful for verifying the laws and principles of physics with reasonable accuracy in a very simple manner. The event is scheduled to go on till February 16. It is sponsored by Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore and Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi and the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad. The course is designed to give the participants hands-on training and discussion of the theory on selected experiments in the areas of thermal physics, mechanics, optics, electricity and mangetism, semi-conuctor physics and electronics.

Keynote speaker RK Thareja gave the essence of high precision, low cost experimental techniques which can be used at the research level. He also spoke on the applications and uses of emerging trends in Laser Technology.

The chief guest was professor R Srinivisan, former HoD, dean and deputy director, IIT-Madras. With the declining interest of the students in basic sciences, there is need for a thrust on innovative style in experimental physics in the course curriculum of the universities to make it more understandable and enjoyable. The theoretical approcah should be flavoured with the experimental techniques.

KN Lalit, zonal manager, Bank of India, gave details of funding available in banking sector for various research activities in universities and colleges.

Ten local teachers and 25 participants from Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UP will take part in it.

Two-week Science Academics XLV refresher course in experimental physics

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