Hyderabad: From December 14-16, high school students from across the state will have the unique opportunity to interact with scientists from various fields, ask questions, and learn directly from them about topics that interest them. This event will take place in Adilabad and is the culmination of a statewide science initiative. The students participating in the program were selected from nearly 10 lakh students who took the ‘Chekumuki' test, a science assessment held on November 7 in schools across the state. The test, which coincided with the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Sir CV Raman, was organized by Jana Vignana Vedika.
During the three-day ‘Street Science Carnival' in Adilabad town, 500 students from across the state will participate in hands-on demonstrations designed to challenge prevalent superstitions and promote scientific thinking. "Through scientific explanations, we will show students that superstitions are unfounded and should not be given importance. We would like to inculcate scientific temper in students," said Nuthala Ravindar, a school teacher and senior functionary of Jana Vignana Vedika.
Ravindar is no stranger to challenging superstitions. In an effort to dispel beliefs in ghosts and help students overcome fear, he had slept in a classroom that students believed was haunted. He did this on Amavasya (the new moon night) in July to show that there was nothing to fear.
"Despite India's 75 years of independence, no Indian scientist has won a Nobel Prize in science," Ravindar remarked. "This highlights the importance of science education and the need to encourage students to pursue careers in science. Superstitions will only hold us back, while science will propel us forward." Ravindar referenced Sir CV Raman, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, as an inspiration for aspiring scientists.
Following the ‘ghost episode,' Ravindar has also received numerous calls from people concerned about suspicious objects, like lemons placed on roads, which they believe will affect them. To counter such superstitions, Ravindar demonstrates that these objects are harmless by squeezing the lemons and drinking the juice, showing that there's nothing to fear.
Supporting Ravindar's efforts are prominent figures like former CCMD director Ch Mohan Rao and former NIMS director Dasari Prasad Rao, both of whom are actively involved in promoting scientific temper among students. During the ‘Street Science Carnival', the so-called "magical powers" claimed by some individuals will be debunked with scientific explanations and demonstrations, helping to foster critical thinking.