Seminar on National Science Olympiad begins at KU

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With an aim to popularize Science Olympiad Programme at primary and secondary level of school education and to strive for overall excellence in basic science education at grass root level a two -day seminar on “National Science Olympiad—Enrollment, Preparation and Participation. ”began at Kashmir University today .

Asserting that science education was must in the present world, the Kashmir University registrar, Prof S Fayyaz Ahmad, on Thursday said the varsity was committed to promote science education in Kashmir.

“The decline in enrollment of students for science education at different levels is a matter of concern. But the Kashmir University is committed to address this problem,” he told a gathering of students and academics during two -day seminar on “National Science Olympiad—Enrollment, Preparation and Participation.”

Prof Fayyaz, who presided over the function, asserted that only those nations prosper whose students and teachers have a “strong base” in science. “The concept of science is no longer confined to studying medicine only. The concept has changed over the years and science education is mandatory for all other fields too,” he said.

The seminar was organised by the varsity’s Department of Chemistry in association with the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Mumbai.

The Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof A R Yousuf, stressed that there was need to motivate students to opt for science education. “The need of the hour is that besides students and academics, the policy makers too should have adequate knowledge of science,” he said, adding that for motivation, there was need to put in place proper infrastructure and facilities for students at school, college and university levels.

The Director, School Education Kashmir, Shagufta Parveen, urged teachers to inculcate scientific temper among students. “For progress of the nation, science education holds the key,” she said. She called for formation of different committees in schools to explore the talent in students’ vis-à-vis science. “There is need to educate students about the importance of science education. I am happy that the KU vice-chancellor, Prof Riyaz Punjabi, is keen to promote science education in Kashmir,” Shagufta, who was the chief guest, said.

Dr Savita Ladage from HBCSE, who was the special guest, said it was important to attract students toward science education. She gave a brief background of the HBCSE and the work it does to promote science education at different levels.

The head, Department of Chemistry, Prof K U Zaman, highlighted the aims and objectives of the seminar. “This function is an attempt to educate students about the importance of science education,” he said in his welcome address.

The organizing secretary, Dr Altaf Hussain Pandith, gave a detailed account of the National Science Olympiad. “It is an endeavor to further science education in different parts of the country. The students who participate and qualify in the Olympaid can ultimately participate in the International Science Olympiad,” he said, while declaring the names of the students who had participated in National Standard Education test. Gining details of the run up to the event Der Altaf said that Last year the Department of chemistry conducted successfully the first National Standard Examination in which a total of 122 students participated from different Higher Secondary Schools across the valley. Among these 73 appeared in Physics, 68 appeared in Chemistry and 58 appeared in biology. This year we have registered 242 students from 24 schools. Among these 92 are appearing in Physics, 103 are appearing in chemistry and 131 are appearing in Biology. The Schools which have enrolled their students for this year’s National Standard Examinations to be held on 23rd of November, 2009 across the country are as;

International Science Olympiad is an international science event, which is being held once in a year in different countries. In 2006, the Olympiads were held in Korea, Argentina and Singapore for chemistry, biology and physics respectively. The 2008 Olympiads were held in Budapest (Hungary), Vietnam and Mumbai (India) for chemistry, physics and biology respectively. The 2010 International Olympiads will be held in Zagreb (Croatia), Tokyo (Japan) and Changwon, (Korea) for physics, chemistry and biology respectively from July17-30, 2010.