New Delhi: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), one of India’s largest science and technology organizations, conducted a nationwide scientific activity aimed at fostering interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among school students. The event, coordinated by the Delhi-based Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), connected 33 CSIR laboratories across the country through an online platform.
The initiative, inaugurated by Dr. Souvik Maiti, Director of CSIR-IGIB, and Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Head of CSIR-HRDG, saw the participation of senior scientists, teachers, and students. Approximately 830 students, including 30 from each laboratory, engaged in the activity to isolate DNA from their own saliva using specially designed kits.
Under the guidance of Dr. Beena Pillai, Chief Scientist, and Dr. Arya Sidharthan, Science Communicator from CSIR-IGIB, students learned about the scientific principles of cell structure and the chemical nature of DNA. The hands-on exercise was followed by a short questionnaire to assess their understanding of scientific principles and their aptitude for STEM fields.
The pilot study aims to guide students in making informed STEM career choices while providing valuable insights for policymakers to design curricula aligned with the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The activity underscores CSIR’s commitment to nurturing scientific temperament among young learners and aligning educational initiatives with national goals.
At CSIR-IGIB, students from Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Air Force Station, Hindan, Ghaziabad, participated in the activity. They also toured the laboratories and interacted with scientists, gaining a first-hand understanding of research in genomics and integrative biology.
The scientific aptitude assessment was conducted under the CSIR-Jigyasa platform, a flagship outreach program launched in 2017 to connect school students with scientists. Over the years, the program has reached approximately 10 lakh students across India, making it a significant contributor to STEM education outreach.