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Sir CV Raman’s discovery of ‘Raman Effect’ on February 28, 1928, is commemorated every year as ‘National Science Day’ in India since 1987. The day aims to celebrate the significance and impact of science in all walks of life and to promote scientific developments. The theme for the year 2024 is “Indigenous technologies for Viksit Bharat”. 

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Manipal has been celebrating National Science Day for close to 20 years by organizing a week-long training program for school children and an open science exhibition at the Manipal School of Life Sciences (MSLS). This year as well, top students of Class IX and X from neighbouring Academy schools were hosted for a week-long residential, hands-on science training program at MSLS and other constituent institutions of MAHE, Manipal (including KMC, MCOPS, MIT, MCBR, DAMP, MCNS and WGSHA) from February 21 to 27, 2024. The celebrations were capped off by the open science exhibition, inaugurated at MSLS on February 27, 2024, by Dr HS Ballal (Pro-Chancellor, MAHE) in the presence of Dr BS Satish Rao (Director, MSLS), faculty members, staff, research scholars and students of MSLS and MAHE.  

In his inaugural address, Dr Ballal lauded the school children for their participation in the training program, while stressing the importance of inculcating scientific temper in young students, considering the impact science has on every aspect of life. He hoped that such exposure will inspire the school students from varied backgrounds to pursue their careers in science and technology. He cited the founding principles of Dr TMA Pai in establishing Manipal as the educational hub in this region, with this year being the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Pai.  

The 25 top students from nearby Academy schools participating in the training program received certificates from the dignitaries. The students stayed in the campus for the week-long programs and experienced the various facets of scientific exploration through hands-on exposure in life sciences, healthcare, pharmaceutical sciences, engineering, nutrition and dietetics, biophotonics, natural sciences and biotherapeutic research at various sister institutions of MSLS. The students had early morning yoga and physical exercise sessions to inculcate the importance of a healthy mind in a healthy body. They also visited the Museum of Anatomy and Pathology, Planetarium, experience theatre and other facilities at MAHE, Manipal. These students also demonstrated some of the models that were displayed as part of the science exhibition on February 27 and 28, 2024 at MSLS. Some of the models on display in the exhibition included brain function, laser-based and light-based displays, blood disorders, DNA sequencing, gene editing, human evolution, photosynthesis, bioluminescence, artificial intelligence, among others. The training program and exhibition at MSLS were organized by a team of faculty members, staff, research scholars and students of MSLS.

Hundreds of school students from nearby areas are expected to visit the exhibition as part of the celebrations on February 28, 2024. The exhibition will be followed by the National Science Day program organized by MAHE in the afternoon at the KMC Greens, Manipal, with the gracious presence of eminent scientist Dr Anuradha TK (former Project Director, ISRO, and the first female project leader at ISRO) and Lt. Gen. (Dr) MD Venkatesh (Vice-Chancellor, MAHE, Manipal).