THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Dhanbad, March 15: Experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, conducted a day-long motivation and learning session to promote STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among students from Project Affected Persons (PAP) families in BCCL areas.
The interactive programme was organised for 85 students of Classes IX and X from H S Bhulinagar, Dhanbad, where they explored the fundamentals of everyday science through simple and engaging experiments conducted by experts from the Department of Management Studies and Industrial Engineering of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
Interactive Experiments to Make Science Interesting
The programme was led by Prof. Rashmi Singh, Programme Coordinator of the project, who interacted with the students using three innovative learning approaches — visual, logical and experimental methods to make STEM concepts easier to understand.
During the session, students witnessed several demonstrations designed to spark curiosity in science.
Highlighting the activities, Prof. Rashmi Singh said the team conducted three experiments:
- Balloon Blow-Up Experiment
- Candle Water Rising Experiment
- Turmeric as a Natural pH Indicator Experiment
Explaining the science behind one of the demonstrations, she said the Balloon Blow-Up Experiment shows a chemical reaction where baking soda reacts with vinegar to produce carbon dioxide gas, causing the balloon to inflate. The experiment helps students understand gas formation during a chemical reaction.
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Joint Initiative of IIT (ISM) and BCCL under CSR Programme
The programme was organised as part of a collaborative initiative between IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
The programme aims to encourage students from PAP families to develop an interest in STEM subjects and pursue future careers in science and technology fields.
Encouraging Students to Pursue STEM Careers
Prof. Niladri Das, Professor in the Department of Management Studies and Industrial Engineering and Programme Co-Coordinator of the project, said the initiative focuses on building scientific curiosity among young learners.
“The comprehensive approach to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics also aims to empower students with the necessary tools to pursue higher education and careers in these critical fields,” he said.
More STEM Outreach Programmes Planned
The outreach team from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad visited H S Bhulinagar on March 14 as part of a broader initiative to promote STEM education among PAP students in BCCL operational areas.
Several other schools are also included in the programme, and similar STEM workshops and interactive learning sessions will be conducted in the coming days.
The session was attended by Archana Kumari, Principal of H S Bhulinagar, along with teachers and students of the school.