Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has joined hands with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to launch a student-scientist connect programme “JIGYASA”. It will focus on connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student’s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning.

Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Human Resource Development in Delhi recently.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Harshvardhan said, “Jigyasa programme was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and “Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR)” of scientific community and institutions. It is a historic day when two ministries are collaborating on the Youth who are the future of the nation. The day also coincides with the birthday of Shri Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who is an inspirational figure and a role model for all Indians”

Speaking on the occasion, Prakash Javadekar said, “To inculcate scientific temper among the students we have to make them aware about the impact of science on the society. Science has played a very important role in changing our lives. Access to these premier institutions is only the beginning. CSIR will also talent hunt among the visiting students for furthering the cause of scientific development. I will personally review the status periodically”

The Programme is expected to connect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 national laboratories of CSIR targeting 100,000 students and nearly 1000 teachers annually. This will also enable the students and teachers to practically live the theoretical concepts taught in science by visiting CSIR laboratories and by participating in mini-science projects.

Student Residential Programmes, scientists as teachers and teachers as scientists, lab specific activities / Onsite Experiments, visits of scientists to Schools/Outreach Programmes, science and maths Clubs, projects of National Children’s Science Congress and tinkering laboratories are some of the activities included under the programme.