MYSURU: Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait has said his government would lay emphasis on Science and Maths education from class 4, as it is done in ICSE and CBSE.
While speaking at the inaugural function of 29th National Children's Science Congress here on Wednesday, he announced that his government would set up science centres in Mysuru, including Varuna, T. Narsipur and Nanjangud.
As many as 340 teams, including 1700 young little scientists (680 in the age group 10 to 14 years and 1,020 in the age group 14 to 17 years), including 850 from rural areas, are presenting papers at Vignana Bhavan in Karnataka State Open University campus.
S.V. Sankanur, MLC and president of Karnataka Rajya Vignana Parishat lamented that despite emphasis on science education, various superstitious practices continue. Even those who study science don't think or act scientifically, he added
The theme of this year's conference is "Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development". Students have chosen to present research papers related to open defecation, fertilisers, organic farming, waste management, usage of sustainable energies, bio fuel for vehicles and many other topics.
Solution to potholes?
Five class 9 students from Bengaluru based Prarthana school, Lakshmi Manasa C.N., Ningraj M., Sai Prathik R., Amith M. Jain and Sinchana K.S. gave a presentation on organic concrete road, which can prevent potholes even during heavy rains.
The students brought Basilis subtelis jc 3 from a lab and prepared organic concrete. It was a mixture of 1:2:4 proportion of cement, sand, boulders respectively and mixed it with water. They later mixed calcium lactate and bacteria and prepared slabs and cured them in water.
"We found, when it rains the bacteria absorbs water and releases calcium carbonate that is lime stone and fill the cracks automatically. So it is self-medicated concrete," the young scientists said.
