14th National Children's Science Congress to be held in Sikkim

Gangtok, Dec 24 (UNI) The 14th National Children's Science Congress (NCSC) with a focal theme ''Biodiversity : Nurture nature for our future'' will begin at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology here on December 27.

Organised by the Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology with active support of state government, Rashtriya Vigyan Evam Pradhyogiki Parishad Union Science and Technology Department, the North East Council and others the five-day mega event is scheduled to be inaugurated by President A P J Abdul Kalam.

NCSC Working Chairman and Secretary Sciece and Technology Department of the Sikkim government told newpersons here that about 580 child scientists of the age group of 10 to 17 years, representing nearly 500 districts spread all over the country are expected to participate in the event being held in the state for the first time.

The primary objective of the NCSC is to help the children exhibit their creativity and innovativeness to think of a problem experienced by the society, its cause and subsequently try to solve it using scientific process.

The programme encourages a sense of discovery by involving close and keen observation, raising questions, building models, predicting solutions and trying out varius possible alternatives and arriving at a solution using experimentation,field work, research and ideas.

Mr Singh said as many as 350 persons comprising of judges, resource persons, eminent scientists, SCSTC-Network members, National and State organising members, around 200 volunteers and apprximately 1400 officials are expected to participate in the Congress.

Sikkim Governor V Rama Rao, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling besides, the Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and top bureaucrats will also be a part of the programme.

He said though the function is being organised in the state at a time when all educational institutions in the state are closed for winter break, still arrangements were underway for participation of about 8500 children from all the four districts in the programme.

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