IIT-Madras to Expand its Rural Science Program to 50,000 More Institutions
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has set a goal to extend its science popularization program in regional languages to 50,000 government schools by 2026. This initiative, which has been offered free of charge since 2015, has already made its way to 9,193 rural government schools. Furthermore, a total of 3,20,702 books have been distributed to students across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
In addition to the science program, students will also benefit from career guidance. The primary objective of this outreach effort is to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). V. Srinivas Chakravarthy, a professor in the Biotechnology Department of Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences at the institute, is leading the coordination of this initiative. He has authored or translated approximately 70 popular science books in Telugu tailored for high school students.
Mr. Chakravarthy said popular science served as a bridge, translating complex scientific concepts into a language that makes it more accessible to a broader audience. “It allows individuals without a scientific background to engage with and appreciate the beauty and importance of scientific discoveries,” he said.
The initiative received backing from both the institute and corporate social responsibility partners. Over the past three years, the endeavor has been extended to include states where Hindi is predominantly spoken, according to the institute. As a component of this initiative, students undergo a complimentary career guidance assessment named 'My Choice My Future'. This tool, developed in collaboration with BodhBridge, has been crafted by faculty members and alumni.
According to a release from the institute, the MCMF tool has provided valuable assistance to 10,931 students in more than 100 schools across the six participating states. Offering comprehensive insights, this tool serves as an online career guidance solution, aiding students in identifying suitable career paths aligned with their strengths. Currently accessible in seven languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi, as well as English - the MCMF tool simplifies the process of career decision-making for school students.
