Tech institute holds event for toppers

Telegraph reports

Siddharth Tripathy, a Class XI student of Delhi Public School, Rourkela, aims to be a particle physicist and work on nano molecules.

Sarthak Panigrahi of IMS Rourkela also aspires to be a doctor and wants to know more about biomolecules and nano technology.

Unlike many teens of their age, the duo feel that being a scientist or researcher can be as “interesting and cool” as being a software developer working abroad and earning huge bucks!

The two were among the 120 meritorious students from the state who reached the capital today to attend a programme on Youth for Leadership in Science organised by the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT). The two-day programme witnesses the participation of Class X rank holders of 2010, from CBSE, ICSE and Board of Secondary Education, Orissa. As many as 49 students from CBSE, 20 from ICSE and 51 students from the state board BSE — all those who secured marks between 95 to 97 per cent — accompanied their parents and teachers to attend the interactive session. The event included special lectures, demonstrations and audio visual shows. The programme aimed to encourage young students to discover science as an exciting, rewarding and fulfilling career.

“Our basic aim is to help students get the right direction where they can utilise their skills to the optimum. The effort is to tell them that science can be rewarding,” said senior scientist Srikant Sharma. Speaking at the inaugural session, programme director, IMMT, B.K. Mishra invited the participants to involve themselves in activities of the institute.

While throwing light on important and interesting research programmes being pursued at IMMT, Mishra said the institute would help interested students pursue short-term projects.

While scientist Siddhartha Panda, department of chemical engineering, IIT-Kanpur, gave an introductory lecture on application of sensors, scientists of IMMT spoke on issues involving chemical, physical and biological sciences with specific reference to cutting-edge scientific and technological innovations

“It was very interesting to listen to the experts. Such lectures provide us the stimulus to think,” said Shivani Nanda, a participant.

“Its not that students think science is un cool. The reason is lack of enough encouragement towards research. Most of us remain unaware of the opportunities and advantages research offers and there is none to guide,” said Sritam Patri another participant.

Following the lectures, participants visited various research facilities of IMMT and interacted with the speakers and scientists of IMMT. “ “The students will be felicitated at the end of the two days programme,” Sharma said.