Science Linked to Survival, Says District Collector at Science Exhibition
Bhongir: “Science is intrinsically tied to our survival,” stated District Collector Hanumantha Rao. On Thursday, he inaugurated the district-level children’s science exhibition (2024–25) and the INSPIRE Awards exhibition (2023–24) at Vidyajyothi High School in Rayagiri village, Bhuvanagiri Mandal.
The event showcased various exhibits, but many were ready-made models sourced from the market. This deviated from the intended purpose of such exhibitions, which is to encourage students to create their own innovative projects. Typically, school principals and teachers guide students to conduct research and develop original ideas, fostering creativity and discovery.
Despite prior instructions from officials against using ready-made exhibits, they were still prominently displayed, especially in the INSPIRE Awards exhibition. This raised concerns about the lack of originality in many of the presentations.
For the INSPIRE Awards (2023–24), the central government had credited Rs 10,000 to each participating student’s account to create their projects. Guide teachers were expected to assist students in developing innovative and original exhibits. However, in many cases, this guidance appeared to be insufficient or absent.
Another challenge arose on the day of the event when the number of participants exceeded expectations. Although 150 students had registered online for the fair, additional participants showed up, increasing the total number of exhibits to 190. Due to space limitations, many displays had to be set up outside classrooms, making it difficult for students to view all the projects.
During the event, District Collector Rao encouraged students to focus on creating innovations that could help the poor and farmers. He emphasized that science exhibitions are important for developing students’ intellectual abilities and urged them to make the best use of their time. He also reminded teachers of their responsibility to nurture students and inspire them to become future scientists.
