Dr Mahesh Sharma chairs 31st Annual General Meeting of the Society of National Council of Science Museums of Ministry of Culture
The Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge), Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma chaired the 31st Annual General Meeting of the Society of National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) of Ministry of Culture at National Science Centre in New Delhi today.
Addressing the meeting, Dr Mahesh Sharma said that NCSM has been doing a commendable work in creating awareness on science and technology, educating students in science and technology, and enhancing public understanding and engagement with science. He appreciated NCSM for setting up 60 innovation hubs in different science museums and centres in the country specially for young children. He said that it will inspire the young minds to make innovations and develop a culture of innovation in the country. Dr Sharma suggested that our youth should visit science museums and this aspect should be incorporated in their curriculum. He also said that science and culture need to be intertwined and it is necessary for equitable development of both fields. Culture needs to be interpreted with modern science and technology parameters and science needs to understand culture and both are needed for national development, he explained.
The Minister said that India is known for its rich heritage and culture with its long history of science. We must make efforts to highlight this glorious past in which science was highly developed, he added. The world has changed and expectations have also changed and so the upgradation, updation and propagation of science and technology is required on a continuos basis, he said.
Offering his salute to the galaxy of intellectuals present at the meeting, the Minister said that the wisdom of the experts should be consolidated and disseminated to the masses.
The Chairman of the Governing bodyof NCSM, Prof. R.C.Sobti said that the very purpose of NCSM is to supplement the formal science education to foster a spirit of enquiry and creativity among the students. He also said that mobile science units are being set up to tap the potential and knowledge of rural people. He also emphasized upon the need of science centres in every district of the country and the district level competitions can be organized to promote the engagement of people in science. The state of the art centres are needed to fulfill the purpose of NCSM and digital intervention is required to make them more popular. He also said that these initiatives can boost tourism also as the tourists can visit these centres.
The NCSM is the longest and largest formal network of science museums in the world. It has already developed 46 science centres and museums in the country. Another 2 are ready for opening. The NCSM reaches out to more than 13.5 million visitors every year. The Puducherry Centre will be inaugurated on 3rd May, 2015. A New Science city is also being developed in Guwahati. 9 additional projects shall also be taken up for implementation during 12th and 13th plan period. The Mobile Science exhibition units have also been inaugurated. The Virtual Science Museum of India will be created soon and hosted on www.museumsofindia.gov.in. The NCSM has also won the “Times of India Social Impact Award” in the education category.
The meeting was attended by the members of the Governing Council of National Council of Science Museums. The Chairman of the Governing Body Prof. R.C.Sobti and other members including Prof Sushma Bhatnagar, Dr Saroj Ghose, Shri G. S. Rautela, Dr Adarsh Chaudhary and Sh C. K. Das were also present at the meeting among others.
Courtesy: pib.nic.in
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