Livescience enhances knowledge in children by developing materials and tools that show them practical applications of science.
Sanjay Kanth would observe nursery kids play with building blocks, while older kids were just reading textbooks to try and get the highest marks in a subject, rather than understanding the basic concepts. He decided to help kids build interesting things like motors, windmills and generators. He came across Vishwas and Pranav, who were working on a similar concept, and were looking for mentors and funding. That was when they started livescience.in in June 2014, to leverage their subject knowledge in Engineering and Biology with the aim of developing materials and tools for school students to work on science experiments and projects. They hope to inspire the next Visveraraya or CV Raman or Einstein from this generation of school going kids. The students are given apparatus to perform experiments depending on their age group - beginner, intermediate and advanced. These include playing with light and lasers, mirrors and lenses, motors, electronic circuits, mechanics and programming.
“I always wanted to get into the Education domain. The saying goes ‘Vidhya Dhana Maha Dhanam’, or ‘the Greatest Charity is giving Education’. We hope to accomplish this with the involvement of corporates and the government, and also do our bit for underprivileged children. Students should appreciate science by experiencing it rather than blindly following textbooks,” explains Dr Sanjay about the motivation behind his venture.
School managements were initially reluctant to accept their value proposition, but the team did not give up. They have now taught 3,000 students across eight schools in Bangalore, mostly ICSE and CBSE . They are trying to convince government schools to try their DIY models, and hope that companies can pitch in with their CSR budgets to help popularise the concept by building science labs in schools. Livescience.in hopes to have a pan India presence over time and will soon be selling their kits with DIY videos online. The kits cost between Rs 250 and Rs 400.
Born in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Dr Sanjay grew up in Bangalore, and did his MBBS from Bangalore University, followed by a Master of Public Health from Western Kentucky University, USA. He used to play cricket and football, and took part in debates and essay writing, which made him both physically and mentally strong.
Dr Sanjay lived in the US and Australia for about nine years, and has been a serial entrepreneur with medical diagnostics and medical transcription ventures. He also forayed into the real estate industry, working on land records and titles. “Corporate life is tough, but we get to meet different people and share their experiences,” he adds. Dr Sanjay relaxes by spending time with his kids, listening to music and watching movies.
— rohit@learnbizsolutions.com