Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent charge), Prahlad Singh Patel 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 fulfill 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?
The first 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.
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.
