Bhubaneswar: The Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with JSW Foundation, Sunday launched a Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) programme aimed at taking experiential science education to students in rural and underserved areas of Odisha.
The MSE van was flagged off by department of Science and Technology Additional Secretary and Odisha Bigyan Academy Secretary Sibani Mohanty, in presence of Regional Science Centre head Kapil Jain.
Following the flag-off ceremony, the specially equipped van departed from the RSC to begin its outreach journey across seven identified districts—Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Kendrapada, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur.
The programme is expected to benefit more than 60,000 students, particularly those studying in government and underserved schools.
The exhibition, themed ‘Science in Everyday Life’, seeks to make science education more accessible by taking interactive learning beyond the walls of a conventional science centre and directly into schools in remote areas.
Equipped with 20 interactive and participatory scientific models, the MSE will encourage students to engage with exhibits, conduct activities, observe scientific phenomena and understand the principles behind them.
The exhibits cover practical concepts closely linked to everyday life, including sound intensity, measurement of height and distance, water footprint, electrical circuits, gravity, effects of temperature and alternative energy.
The exhibits feature information in both Odia and English, along with audio output, making the programme more inclusive and accessible to students from diverse backgrounds.
Speaking on the occasion, Kapil Jain said the initiative was an important step towards democratising access to experiential science education and fostering curiosity and scientific temper among students.
“Science is not confi ned to textbooks and laboratories but is an integral part of everyday life. Through the mobile exhibition, students in underserved areas will get an opportunity to learn scientific concepts through direct interaction and hands-on experiences,” Jain emphasised.
The collaboration with JSW Foundation is expected to further strengthen the reach of science communication and education across Odisha.
During its journey through the identified districts, the MSE will conduct interactive sessions, science demonstrations and science shows for students.
The initiative marks a significant step by the City RSC, towards promoting inclusive, participatory and experiential science education and ensuring that students in remote and underserved communities also get opportunities to engage with science in an interactive and meaningful manner.
