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A visit to Science City Studying Science in School is so boring but a trip to Science City changed our thoughts and has given a new meaning to Science. For us, Science is now interesting and fun. As we arrived at Science City, every face had an expression of excitement. We entered the gates slowly and the vast area full of trees, flowers, models of great Scientists such as Acharya Jagadish Chandra, Newton, Galileo etc. greeted us. We were eager to get inside and come to the arena of the Evolution Park, where we had to enter through the mouth of a Dinosaur. It was totally dark inside and as we entered stealthily in a line, the roar of a huge Dinosaur greeted us, and when we saw its glittering eyes, long tail, and wide open mouth, with sharp teeth, everybody got scared, until we realized it was just a clay model and then everyone laughed. There were many species of Dinosaurs displayed. As we moved forward we saw the section on active volcanoes erupting with lava flowing like a red river. Then there was the history of early man with all his primitive tools made of rocks and bones displayed. Some were hunting an elephant with huge rocks. Deer, apes, birds were some common animals of those days and a brief write up on each made very interesting reading for us which we explained to our younger friends. We saw different species of fish, including Gold fish, Oscar fish, Kissing fish, Shark and flesh eating Piranha. They were all so colourful with different designs and shapes which made them beautiful. We read and tried out many experiments, such as a cycle in which we had to sit on and ride, in order to understand that the force of pressure created during cycling, blows the balls right to the top of a long glass tube. Sounds, pressure and atmosphere helped us understand how an aircraft and birds take flight. After this we went to the Illusion house. Here we understood how illusion takes place. There was a well which had a mirror fixed and due to illusion of the mirrors it seemed as if the well was very deep but it was not. After the illusion house, we entered the magic mirror house in which the mirrors were fitted in such a way that we lost our way, shouting and screaming, and kept bumping and banging into the mirrors. It was a great place and we had a great time inside the Magic mirror house. Next we went to the space house, which was a theatre in which we saw a movie about the planets, stars, sun, and moon. The how, why, cause and effect of the cosmic system was explained. We also saw our own city Kolkata. After watching the show in this space house we realized that Kolkata is beautiful. We then moved across to the 3D theatre where we had to wear spectacles to see the show. Everything seemed to be covering and climbing on our body, the snakes, the rats etc. It was so scary but fun. This too happens due to illusion. Then we went to the Maritime Coast Museum which was mainly about ships. War ships, trade ships, trawlers, boats, all were there with a short background of their early existence and history. There was information on the sea wall and uses of a light house. Ship building was also covered in the Maritime Coast. The visit to the Science City was a great experience for all of us. It was like an ocean of knowledge which made learning fun, joyful, happy, exciting and adventurous. It was an excursion which helped us understand our world better. Sharine Lazarus Rainbow What is new in a programme which has lasted now since 1979 and still continues? We had shifted our programme from Bishnupur circle I to circle III, which is Rashpunja (Bakrahat side) from 2004 onwards. Every school has had additions, innovations and repairs done to their infrastructure, through the generosity of John Scottus School, who donated them money and came themselves to build alongside our Loreto Sealdah girls and the rural students, and we have had refresher workshops for Primary School Teachers. The objectives of the new programme in addition to all that our children do when they go out every Thursday, are : i) Improvement of the primitive infrastructure of the secondary rural girls schools. ii) Development of Women’s Empowerment in the remote areas. iii) Upgrading Women’s Education so as to involve more girls in the decision making process thereby bringing about social change. The impact of the programme has been that the Govt. of West Bengal (Dept of Education), Zilla Parishad and Local Panchayat are taking an interest in the schools and releasing funds from the DPEP and S.S.A. programmes. As a result of our collaboration with the John Scottus students from Dublin. six Girls High schools and 2 Co-educational Schools were approved for Higher Secondary and 6143 girls, 2221 Boys, 122 female and 42 male Teachers were benefitted. The Local MP’s are also giving funds from their Development quota, so we have the happiness of seeing real advancement in girls’ education in the area. Avijit Majumdar
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