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Exploring your way through science!

By Dilip M. Salwi

"Experiment is the highest court of appeal in science," said the eminent physicist and Nobel Laureate Richard Feynmann once. But an experiment implies the need for abundant curiosity, free and wild thinking, considerable time and patience, the necessary paraphernalia, and on top of all, no fear of going wrong or breaking an equipment or wasting a chemical! For these very reasons, Indian schools and colleges avoid the hullabaloo of experiments. Instead, they conduct practical classes and demonstrations to safely tide within the prescribed time limits! Obviously, fun is taken out of science and innovation and creativity is shown the door, The number of bright students opting for science as a career is therefore on the decline all over the country, "If this trend continues." said Prof B.G.Bhide, an eminent scientist and the brain behind the 'Exploratory', "the country is heading for disaster".

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To reverse the present negative trend so that bright students stay on in science, a small experiment called 'Exploratory' begun in some rooms of Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan on April 8, 1992, in Pune, which can act as a beacon in the stormy weather of science education in the country. "As the very name implies," said its Director, prof C.K. Desai, "Exploratory is the place where a student can explore science without any kind of fear. It is neither a lab nor a museum. Here teachers are available simply as guides". Today, 'Exploratory' has five well-equipped labs on physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and electronics.

The concept of 'Exploratory' occurred to Prof Bhide, when after long innings as a scientist at National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, he assumed the Vice Chancellorship of the University of Poona and felt something seriously wrong with science education in schools and colleges. His studies convinced him that bright students were shying away from science because it was no more an exciting subject worth spending one's life on. Moreover, the toppers in schools and colleges later turned out to be mediocres in real life conditions. Obviously, science education was more dependent upon memory rather than problem-solving abilities of students. To stimulate these abilities, prof Bhide realised, 'Exploratory' was the answer. At a ceremony of Indian Association for Physics Teachers in 1992, where prof Desai received the best teacher's award, he (Prof Bhide) lured the eager Professor to the Exploratory. Eager to break the mould of the present science education system, Prof Desai took voluntary retirement from his Professorship at a college in Sangamner and shifted to Pune to manage the Exploratory.

"At a time we've a batch of not more than 40 students," said prof Desai, showing the various displays, exhibits, charts and apparatuses available in the five labs, "This batch is further divided into groups of 5 to 6 students which get disbanded after every third experiment". About 350 students both from English and Marathi medium therefore get an exposure to the exploratory way of doing science every year on a first come-first serve basis. Also, about 2000 students visit the Exploratory every year. In recent times, the programme has also been extended to college students. A select group of ten is exposed to a series of lectures on different aspects of science and is also given the opportunity to work on research projects in the local scientific institutions like National Chemical laboratory, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, National Centre for Radio Astronomy, etc. Besides, students are also exposed to the research and work environment in the local industries and factories. Results are highly encouraging. Exploratory-trained students have bagged prizes and awards in various national and international Olympiads in science and mathematics. Even some students have been offered scholarships to study in some U.B. universities.

"We're keen that our experience at Exploratory is reproduced all over the country." said Prof Bhide with pride, "The NCERT is already intending to do so in their regional centres". These are encouraging signs, provided the Exploratory's free spirit of exploring (including the funding which is purely non-Governmental) is not tied down by a new system of education. Meanwhile, the Ex-ploratory's success is slowly spreading by word of mouth to neighbouring towns and cities. School and college teachers from Hubli. Nanded. Nasik. Yasatmal. Pali, etc, are regularly visiting the Exploratory and are acquiring the knowhow and experience to set up one in their own schools and colleges. A programme to orient teachers to the Exploratory's way of doing science is also in progress. In the near future, the Exploratory also intends to bring the expertise of its best teachers to the doorsteps of students through DCs and books. Healthy signs for science eduction, isn't it?