NIHERST Signs Science Popularization Agreement with Largest Network of Science Centres in the World
January 10th 2012

From left to right:  Mr S Chaudhari, Director, Central Research and Training, Kolkata;
Dr. K G Kumar, Director (Headquarters) NCSM; G S Rautela, Director General, NCSM;
and Jwala Rambarran, NIHERST Chairman
 

On Tuesday January 10th 2012, the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST) formally initiated links with the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Kolkata, India.

NCSM, which was established in 1978, is a premiere scientific organization in India and is the world’s largest network of science museums and centres for creating a culture of science and enhancing public appreciation and understanding of science and technology. NCSM engages about 12.5 million people annually through its interactive and innovative exhibits, extensive educational activities and a large fleet of mobile science museums for rural areas. NCSM has created 53 science centres/science museums/science cities in India, and two centres outside India. Its exhibits have been exported to the UK, Australia, Israel, Turkey and Bangladesh.

Commenting after the signing ceremony, Jwala Rambarran, Chairman of NIHERST, said that under its strategic plan, NIHERST’s focus in the years ahead will intensify in several key areas, including the building of collaborative global relationships with world class science, technology and innovation (STI) institutions, and the fostering of a wider national culture of science, innovation and entrepreneurship. A major new project under the strategic plan calls for constructing a state-of-the-art national science centre. Rambarran indicated that NCSM’s core competencies match the emerging areas of interest to NIHERST, and opens up several possibilities for collaboration that will be of mutual benefit to both institutions and therefore to both Trinidad and Tobago and India.

The MoU will facilitate the hosting in Trinidad and Tobago of the travelling exhibition ‘India: A Culture of Science’ in 2012. Major sections of this exhibition, which has been showcased in the US, France, Russia and China, highlights India’s heritage in science and technology (ayurvedic medicine, astronomy, metals and metallurgy, town planning and architecture), science and technology in India today (agriculture, energy, biotechnology, nanotechnology and nuclear power), and hands-on exhibits on mathematics and basic sciences.