<p>Though there has been a significant growth in education levels, people continue to be victims of ignorance and superstition. The increase in the number of faith healers, black magicians and shamans clearly shows that people are being exploited by them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In a talk on ‘Science Behind the Miracles’, N Mahadevappa and Santosh Kumar educated students on the tricks employed by faith healers to convince people of their ‘powers’.<br /><br />“People should realise that no man has special powers. The ‘miracles’ performed by such people are either cheap magic tricks or can be easily explained by science,” said Mahadevappa.<br /><br />The talk was part of Cosmos-2013, a two day workshop on cosmological aspects and telescope making, organised by the Mysore Science Foundation, inaugurated on Saturday.<br /><br />In the talk, the duo unveiled the tricks employed by reputed seers and sages to ensure a large following of devotees. <br /><br />“The talk is an attempt to drag children away from the clutches of ignorant and superstitious practices. Students and children should develop scientific temper and skepticism, in order to prevent themselves from being cheated by such tricksters,” Mahadevappa said.<br /><br />Earlier during the day, several talks were held by experts on a range of subjects.<br />In the first session, ‘The path traversed by Indian Science’, joint secretary of Bangalore Science Forum, Y C Kamala, delineated the history of Indian science and how science has become universal, following developments in communication technologies.<br /><br />Raghu A, Assistant Professor of Physics, Women’s College, Mandya delivering a seminar on ‘Constellations’, taught students to identify various constellations by looking at the night sky. Steps to identify various constellation of the zodiac by keeping Pole Star as reference was also taught.<br /><br />The session was followed by ‘Hands on Experience: Day Time Astronomy Experiments’, where participating students were encouraged to conduct experiments. <br /><br />Students were taught to identify Sun spots, present on the surface of the Sun by projecting the image of the sun on a piece of white paper using a telescope.<br />As many as 65 students and other members of the public participated in the workshop. <br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Though there has been a significant growth in education levels, people continue to be victims of ignorance and superstition. The increase in the number of faith healers, black magicians and shamans clearly shows that people are being exploited by them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In a talk on ‘Science Behind the Miracles’, N Mahadevappa and Santosh Kumar educated students on the tricks employed by faith healers to convince people of their ‘powers’.<br /><br />“People should realise that no man has special powers. The ‘miracles’ performed by such people are either cheap magic tricks or can be easily explained by science,” said Mahadevappa.<br /><br />The talk was part of Cosmos-2013, a two day workshop on cosmological aspects and telescope making, organised by the Mysore Science Foundation, inaugurated on Saturday.<br /><br />In the talk, the duo unveiled the tricks employed by reputed seers and sages to ensure a large following of devotees. <br /><br />“The talk is an attempt to drag children away from the clutches of ignorant and superstitious practices. Students and children should develop scientific temper and skepticism, in order to prevent themselves from being cheated by such tricksters,” Mahadevappa said.<br /><br />Earlier during the day, several talks were held by experts on a range of subjects.<br />In the first session, ‘The path traversed by Indian Science’, joint secretary of Bangalore Science Forum, Y C Kamala, delineated the history of Indian science and how science has become universal, following developments in communication technologies.<br /><br />Raghu A, Assistant Professor of Physics, Women’s College, Mandya delivering a seminar on ‘Constellations’, taught students to identify various constellations by looking at the night sky. Steps to identify various constellation of the zodiac by keeping Pole Star as reference was also taught.<br /><br />The session was followed by ‘Hands on Experience: Day Time Astronomy Experiments’, where participating students were encouraged to conduct experiments. <br /><br />Students were taught to identify Sun spots, present on the surface of the Sun by projecting the image of the sun on a piece of white paper using a telescope.<br />As many as 65 students and other members of the public participated in the workshop. <br />DH News Service</p>
