29 April 2010
Station: Gandhinagar
State: Gujarat
Exhibition dates: 26.04.10 - 27.04.10
Visitors: 1511

The Science Express was welcomed at Gandhinagar by Shri A. S Garud, Divisional Railway Manager, Ahmedabad, Western Railway. Dr. Kamal Kant Dwivedi, Head, National Council of Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Dept. of Science & Technology, New Delhi; Shri. Chander Mohan, Director, NCSTC and Shri. Dilip Surkar, Executive Director, Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC), Ahmedabad were also present during the welcome ceremony.

During the Science Express’ halt at Gandhinagar, the Joy of Science lab received 259 participants whereas the Climate Change platform activity received 154 participants.
 
A valediction function was organized to mark the successful conclusion of the third phase of Science Express. Dr. Kamal Kant Dwivedi, Head, NCSTC, DST was the Chief Guest at the function. Shri Chander Mohan, Director, NCSTC; Shri Kartikeya V. Sarabhai, Chairman, Standing Committee, VASCSC and Shri Dilip Surkar, Executive Director, VASCSC were present on this occasion.

Dr. Dwivedi addressed the gathering and said, “Science Express is a mission and I appreciate your efforts for achieving the mission of the country.  This mission would continue in the fourth phase.”

Shri Sarabhai congratulated the team and said that the journey of the Science Express was a life long experience for them. He also said, “This partnership has taken us a long way.”

Shri Chander Mohan and Shri Dilip Surkar also congratulated the team on their commendable efforts.

The team put together a PowerPoint presentation on their experiences and memories associated with the Science Express. Some team members also narrated their personal experiences to the audience. All those present cheered for the team.

As a gesture of appreciation, the team members were awarded certificates and memento, designed in the form of a train coach, which was well-received by the team.

The team members bid a farewell to each other with happiness on successful completion of the project and with the hope that more such endeavours would be taken up soon.

27 April 2010
Station: Ujjain
State: Madhya Pradesh
Exhibition dates: 22.04.10 - 25.04.10
Visitors: 22483

Ujjain was the second last halt of the Sciene Express. The Science Express was welcomed at Ujjain by Dr. S. P. S. Ahlawat, Vice Chancellor, Vikram University, Ujjain. Mr. Hari Om Tripathi, District Education Officer; Mr. Chandra Mauli Shukla, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ujjain and Mr. O. L. Mandoloi, Joint Director Education, Ujjain were also present on the occasion. The programme was organised by Advance College, Ujjain. The NASA’s project ‘Moonbuggy’ team from Ujjain was also felicitated on the occasion.

The Joy of Science lab recorded a large number of students. 996 students participated in its activities whereas 349 students participated in the Climate Change platform activity.  87 students were given career counselling. The team celebrated Earth Day on 22 April by conducting extempore public speaking and quiz competitions.

Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, State Minister for Science & Technology, Madhya Pradesh also visited the Science Express. He was also the Chief Guest at the function organized to award the quiz competition winners. This quiz was organized by the Science Express in collaboration with the District Education Department. Mr. Chandra Mauli Shukla, Commissioner, Ujjain; Additional Superintendent of Police; Mr. Hari Om Tripathi, District Education Officer, members of District Education Department and Children’s Science Center, Indore were also present at the function.

Educational institutes in Ujjain include Vikram University, Ujjain Engineering College, Dhanvantri Ayurveda College, R. D. Gardi Medical College, etc.

24 April 2010
Station: Kota
State: Rajasthan
Exhibition dates: 18.04.10 - 21.04.10
Visitors: 18624

The Science Express is now moving towards the end of its tour of 56 locations around the country and will conclude at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This exhibition train moved to Rajasthan after halting in Uttar Pradesh and would soon move to Madhya Pradesh. In Rajasthan, it halted at Kota.

At Kota, the Science Express was welcomed by Mr. M. Meshram, Divisional Railway Manager, Kota. He gave the feedback: “It is very educative and excellent for everyone particularly students to know the present day innovation and experimentation taking place around the world. All staff are very knowledgeable and explain quite vividly. Arrangements are excellent and sequential.”

Despite the Rajasthan heat, a large number of visitors turned up at the exhibition and also participated in the various activities conducted by the team. The Joy of Science lab received an overwhelming 935 students whereas the platform activity also witnessed 843 participants. 304 students availed the benefit of the Career Counselling activity.

Kota is well-known for Kota Doria sarees, Kota stone and the coaching institutes for various entrance exams. Kota houses Rajasthan Technical University, University of Kota and Vardhman Mahaveer Open University.

21 April 2010
Station: Jhansi
State: Uttar Pradesh
Exhibition dates: 14.04.10 - 17.04.10
Visitors: 14846

The Science Express reached Jhansi and was welcomed by Mr. J. P. Pandey, Additional Divisonal Railway Manager, North Central Railway, Jhansi. Mr. Ram Dev, Station Manager, Jhansi and Dr. Devendra Shah, Regional Science and Technology Officer, Jhansi were present on the occasion. Mr. Ashok Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager, Jhansi, NCR and Ms. Sanidha Gupta, President, NCRWWO/Jhansi had visited the exhibition.

The Joy of Science lab received 474 participants, the Climate Change platform activity received 484 participants whereas 82 students attended the career counselling conducted by the team. The team conducted Outreach Programme at Wood’s Heritage School in which 248 students and teachers participated.

A Science Quiz was also conducted by the team in association with the District Science Club, Jhansi. The winners were awarded prizes at the hands of the DRM and President NCRWWO/Jhansi.

Some educational institutes in Jhansi include Government Engineering College, Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering & Technology, Bundelkhand University, BBC College, BKD College, Government Inter College, Suraj Prasad College, etc.

20 April 2010
Station: Agra Cantt.
State: Uttar Pradesh
Exhibition dates: 10.04.10 - 13.04.10
Visitors: 24848

After halting in the India’s Capital, the Science Express once again moved towards Uttar Pradesh. The Science Express was welcomed at Agra Cantt. by Mr. Devesh Misra, IRTS, Divisional Railway Manager, Agra.

Agra witnessed a large number of school students visiting the exhibition who enthusiastically participated in its activities with 536 students participating in the Joy of Science lab and 611 students participating in the Climate Change platform activity. 75 students were counselled on taking up a career in Science. The team also conducted a sky watching programme at the railway stadium and fun-filled activities at Bloomingdale Nursery School.

Agra is a major tourist destination because of its many Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Science Express team visited these sites and experienced these beautiful Indian legacies.

The universities and educational institutes in Agra include Agra University, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Central Institute of Hindi, School of Life Sciences, Dau Dayal Institute of Vocational Education, Agra College, Institute of Engineering & Technology, Sarojini Naidu Medical College, FET Agra College, Raja Balwant Singh College, Anand Engineering College, BMAS Engineering College,  Institute of Biotechnology and Research Centre, etc.

11 April 2010
Station: Delhi Cantt.
(NCT)
Exhibition dates: 05.04.10 - 09.04.10
Visitors: 12765

It was an occasion of celebration for the Science Express team at Delhi. The Science Express celebrated 50 lakh visitors, over the three phases of its journey, since its launch on 30 October 2007. Since then, the exhibition has halted at 150 stations over a period of 600 days. It also crossed the 15 lakh visitors’ mark in its third phase.

To celebrate this special achievement, a function was organised on 06 April 2010 at Delhi Cantt. railway station. Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Govt. of India was the Chief Guest on this occasion. Ms. Nishita Yadav, a Class 10 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, became the proud 5 millionth visitor to the exhibition and was felicitated by the Hon’ble Minister. The Hon’ble Minister visited the exhibition and interacted with the Science Express team with his encouraging words. He wrote of his experience as such: “Congratulations for receiving 5 millionth visitor today. This is my second visit to the Science Express. The fact that 5 million visitors through the country have visited the Exhibition is a proof that this joint Indo- German experiment is making a difference in reaching excitement of Science to the remotest area of the country. Congratulation and best wishes.”

The function was attended by dignitaries like Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, DST; Dr. Kamal Kant Dwivedi, Head, NCSTC, DST; Shri Ashwini Lohani, DRM, Delhi Division, Northern Railway; Shri Chander Mohan, Director, NCSTC, New Delhi and Shri Dilip Surkar, Executive Director, VASCSC, Ahmedabad. On this occasion, members of DST, VASCSC, Indian Railways, Science Express team and school students were present.

The Science Express was welcomed by Dr. Kamal Kant Dwivedi, Head, National Council on Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), Dept. of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi at Delhi Cantt. railway station. He gave the feedback: “Science Express is a mission of the Department of Science and Technology to awaken the masses about the Science. The self motivated team of Communicators and high class of exhibits impress the visitors a lot. This project is needed to be elevated to next higher level. I congratulate all those who are associated with this mission called ‘Science Express’”.  Mr. Dilip Surkar, Executive Director, VASCSC and Mr. Chander Mohan, Director, NCSTC were also present on this occasion.

Several dignitaries visited the Science Express at Delhi Cantt. Including Mr. Inderjit Singh, Joint Secretary, DST, New Delhi; Mr. P. N. Prasad, Director, DST, New Delhi; Mr. Shiv Kumar Prasad, Director (Coaching), Ministry of Railways, New Delhi; Mr. Anuj Dayal, Chief PRO, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, New Delhi; Dr. Heinz Wirth, Science Counsellor, German Embassy; Miss Bhumica Chugh, Science Officer, German Embassy; Ms. Seema Sharma, Director (I & P) Railway Board, Ministry of Railways and  Mr. Dilip Mirzapure, ex-Project Coordinator, Science Express (Phase II). A team from Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) comprising Mr. Arun Kumar, Executive Director; Mr. S. P. Goel, Director (I/C); Dr. Mathur also spent time on the Science Express

The activities conducted by the Science Express team also received a good response. The Joy of Science lab registered 807 participants, 526 students participated in the platform activity whereas 259 students received counselling on ‘Careers in Science’. The Outreach Programme was conducted by the Science Express team at ITL Public School, Rockfield Public School and K. R. Mangalam World School. A total of 388 students from these schools enjoyed the activities conducted as a part of this Programme.