The Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent charge), Shri Prahlad Singh Patel flagged off the first ever Mobile Science Exhibition (SCIENCE EXPLORER) for the entire Ladakh Region in Leh today. Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Shri Gyal P Wangyal;  Culture Secretary, Shri Arun Goel; DG, ASI, Smt Usha Sharma; representative of National Council of Science Museums(NCSM); senior officers of Ministry of Culture and Officials of local administration were among those present on the occasion

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Mobile Science Exhibition in Ladakh will benefit all the people of Ladakh through its mobility and knowledge. He said that Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) programme, originally launched as Mobile Science Museum (MSM) in 1965, with a mission ‘If the people cannot visit the museum, let the museum visit the people at their doorsteps’, is the largest and the longest running outreach programme of NCSM. It is very successful in supplementing formal education with non-formal mode of science education, in creating a scientific awareness in the society and nurturing scientific temper and creative potential of the young people in the areas where MSE programmes are conducted, the Minister explained.

The Union Culture Minister simultaneously launched 25 new Mobile Science Exhibition buses for Aspirational Districts of India. Speaking on the occasion, he said that it is a rare moment to carry out the  National launch of 25 new Mobile Science Exhibition buses from  Leh. He explained that considering the vastness of our country and the need to reach out to the unreached, Ministry of Culture has taken a drive to launch 25 new MSE buses this year in the Aspirational Districts.

The Minister further stated that the Government of India aims to upgrade the districts which have shown relatively less progress in achieving key social outcomes through a mass movement. This will help to quickly and effectively transform these districts named as ‘Aspirational Districts’. He also informed that to fulfil this objective, NCSM, an autonomous S&T institution under the Ministry of Culture jointly with the Department of Science &Technology (DST), Government of India is launching 25 new Mobile Science Exhibition Buses specifically for these aspirational districts. The buses will travel to schools in Aspirational Districts through out the year except during the vacations and will aim to create a scientific awareness among the rural children. Each specially designed bus contains 20 interactive exhibits and other demonstrations related to children and rural life. More Exhibition buses will be added in coming years, he added.

The Union Minister also said that several other buses will roll out with exhibition the same day in different parts of the country simultaneously. The program has been fully funded by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, he added.

The topics chosen for these exhibitions are:

1.Measurement

2. Machines in everyday life

3.Food & Health

4.Chemistry & Life with focus on Water

5.Energy

6. Hygiene & Sanitation

7. Space Science for Human Welfare

What is a Mobile Science Exhibition (MSE) Programme?

Tfirst MSE on the theme ‘Our Familiar Electricity’ was inaugurated at Ramakrishna Mission Boys’ School, Narendrapur, near Kolkata on 17th November 1965. The first MSE Bus was flagged off in 1966 from Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata.

Mounted on a specially designed bus, a Mobile Science Exhibition carries a number of interactive exhibits related to everyday science. The MSE or Museo-bus travels from school to school in rural areas and organize exhibitions there throughout the year. Along with the exhibition, some other programmes like Sky Observation Programme through telescope, science films show, Science Demonstration Lectures etc. are also organised.

Why MSE Programme in Leh,Ladakh Region:

The Science Explorer MSE programme in the Leh, Ladakh region will be the first of its kind in the region with a broad objective to:

•    Popularize science and technology among the students and general public.
•     Creating a scientific awareness in the society.
•     Inculcating a spirit of enquiry among the young people.
• Inspiring youngsters to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
• Supplementing formal education imparted in schools and colleges with non-formal science education.
•   Promoting a culture of science in the society. 

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India is primarily engaged in ‘Communicating Science to Empower People’ through its network of twenty-five Science Centres/Museums spread across India. With the help of its unique interactive science exhibits through which students can explore the basics of science and technology, travelling and short-term exhibitions, Mobile Science Exhibitions (MSE) units and a wide range of science based educational programmes and activities for public and students in particular, NCSM has now become a trend setter in the field of science communication both at national and international level. NCSM is the world’s largest network of science centres and museums that functions under a single administrative umbrella.

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NB/AKJ/OA