Fired-up kids paint the canvas, all for the love of science

Amid the calls of the barbets, chirping of sparrows and squirrels, 350 young children took part in an on-the-spot painting competition on ‘Make in India: Science and Technology Driven Innovations’ organised by the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here on Sunday. 

The theme was given by the Union government’s Department of Science and Technology. The competition was inaugurated by IISc Registrar V Rajarajan and was judged by teachers from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, KSCST Secretary Prof S Subramanian said the event was held in the run-up to the National Science Day on February 28. The IISc will host science lectures that day. 

The institute is also hosting awareness programmes and workshops in schools, encouraging children to maintain an environment and science diary.  

KSCST Executive Secretary Dr S G Sreekanteshwara Swamy said the idea was to encourage children to enjoy science. 

It’s one of the ways to ensure a developed yet green environment in a city like Bengaluru, where pollution levels and water problems are increasing by the day, he added.

Science courses in demand Subramanian said the number of students enrolling in science degrees was on the increase in the last ten years, mainly because of demand from biotechnology and information technology companies. 

This is a reversal of the past trend when students were rushing to study engineering. Most students are now opting for physics, chemistry and mathematics. These are basic subjects and have proved useful to the students, he said. 

Another trend is the increase in the number of CET candidates opting to study BSc in animal husbandry, veterinary sciences, agricultural sciences and biotechnology.