Young Minds Think Beyond Text Books to Become Scientists

In a positive development for promotion of science, Dr Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik science competition has been drawing lakhs of students.
Child scientists competition was first held in 1981 and has been continuing ever since.
42,000 students took part in the competition recently.
Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, UP have so far taken the science talent test and more than 10 lakh students have participates.
Gujarat and Karnataka has been pressing for the competition being held in their respective states, says one of the organising committee members of competition.
The competition, students say, is a tough one. It is not easy to reach the last round of the competition, held over a period of one year.
4 cycles of competition include a written test, practical, elaborate project on topical environmental concern followed by an interview
Only 0.1% of competitors make it to final and awarded the gold medal and experts from top science and research institutes such as IIT-B select the winning students.
One of projects by a class VI students in 2012-2013, on rainwater harvesting, was taken up by Badlapur railway station.
Vedang Asgaonkar, winner of gold medal, says completion builds self confidence, inspires and helps better understanding of science.

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