IISc Open Day excites visitors

The IISc Open Day was part of the institute’s annual fest, “Miditha 2010,” for which Deccan Herald is the media partner.  On this day, ordinary folk had an opportunity to check out the campus and get a closer look at the scientific community at work.

Hundreds of people turned out to know the various interesting research works going on at IISc, and had an opportunity to see and understand complex machines and other science models. People enjoyed lectures delivered by the experts on many interesting subjects.

At the Department of Neuro Sciences, three original brains were kept for display. A young researcher Arjun Ramakrishna was seen educating people on the functions of various parts of the brain. One of the brains was sliced open.

Arjun told the eager onlookers which part of the brain receives messages and transmits to other region that directs the body part to act. Later, the researcher told the visitors that he is doing research on how the brain receives signals through eyes.

Similarly, the section dealing with the study of earth had organised talks on Tsunami and the disappearance of dinosaurs from earth. A good number of people turned up to listen to the talks.

A little distance away, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in association with the Department of Aerospace Engineering too had displayed various models of aeroplanes and hi-tech machines responsible for enhancing the speed of the aircraft.

The institute’s Assistant Registrar, B N Balaji told Deccan Herald that 40 departments from the IISc campus had displayed some of the interesting research works going on there. He said around 10,000 people visited the campus before noon, adding purpose and meaning to the IISc Open Day.