Following National Science Day, Akshara Foundation took students of the Seva Bharat Trust Government Kannada, Telugu, Tamil Higher Primary Schools, Viveknagar to the Indian Institute of Science campus for a Science Tour. The Robotics Lab team from Akshara, forty-four school children, along with two teachers and fifteen volunteers from Robert Bosch, Bangalore began their field trip in the morning.
The first stop was at the Department of Physics at IISc: Enthralled by the live demos of magnetic levitation, line follower robot, fibre optics and Tesla coil, students were able to learn fundamental physics through experience. After a short pit stop for refreshments, the group marched on to the airfield at IISc campus to watch unmanned airplanes performing somersaults in the air. Their next welcome was at the Combustion, Gasification & Propulsion Laboratory (CGPL) department where they could watch a live demo of a rocket launch: from ignition to take off.
The research scholars at the inorganic and physical chemistry department took up the job of entertaining and education our students next. After a round of experiments with explosive hydrogen gas, acid-bases indicators, surface tensions in liquid and its neutralization, children also participated in a simple quiz and won goodies such pens and periodic tables.
After a quick lunch and a visit to the R&D center collaboratively run by IISc and Robert Bosch, we called it a day and set off home.
Worrying that a hot day may have erased some learning, we met these children on Monday (03 Mar 2014) for a session of recap. It was rather overwhelming to see that the children remembered most of the demos. The Robotics Lab team spent a few minutes discussing the demos, listing the ones that can be replicated by the children at the school and making plans to do so.
We cannot end without expressing our heartfelt gratitude to the team from Robert Bosch. Not only did they graciously sponsor and make the arrangements, they were also incredibly supportive in escorting the children and motivating them to learn some more.
If you would like to volunteer at any of our future events, please write to us at volunteer@akshara.org.in
Want amazing stories and Akshara news in your inbox? Hop on the list!