CUTTACK: Just a day into the programme, the 150 students of four junior colleges in the City are contemplating career options other than the traditional medical and engineering.
Creme de la creme of their colleges, they are here to attend the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) internship programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) being hosted by Ravenshaw University.
The four-day camp from March 4 is a potpourri of lectures and practical sessions on the latest in the field of science.
With the DST aiming at “attracting talent to study science at an early stage and build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the science and technology system and research and development base in the country,” these science students are being mentored.
Initiated in 2008, INSPIRE is being conducted in various institutions across the country. “The students get to know the interesting and challenging aspects of science and the latest developments from experts. This gives them ideas for pursuing higher education/research/career,” said Prof PK Rath of the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). He is here to deliver lectures.
Academicians from the JNU, Central University-Hyderabad, NISER-Bhubaneswar, AIIMS, Utkal University and Ravenshaw University are addressing the students who have scored more than 80 per cent in Class X.
The topics covered are physical, environmental science, biotechnology, earth and environmental sciences and chemical science.
Abahini Mohapatra of SB Women’s College said, “The teachers explain the concepts so well that it helps us think creatively about science. Earlier, I wanted to be become a doctor but now I have an alternative in bio-technology.”
Another such camp will be organised in the University from March 22 to 26.