Science Express
{{Distinguish|text = Science Express, which provides advance electronic publication of selected Science papers }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
The Science Express is a mobile scientific exhibition for children mounted on a train which travels across India. The project was launched on 30 October 2007 at the Safdarjung railway station, Delhi by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Although open to all, the project primarily targets students and teachers. {{As of|2017}}, the train has had nine phases and has showcased exhibitions on three themes. The first four phases from 2007 to 2011 were called "Science Express" and were focused on micro and macro cosmos. The next three phases from 2012 to 2014 remodelled the exhibits as "Biodiversity Special". The eighth and ninth phase from 2015 to 2017 was redesigned to focus on "Climate Change".
Collaborations and exhibits
The project was initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in 2007 primarily focusing for students and teachers and has no entry fee. DST focused the first four phases on micro and macro cosmos and highlighted the developing newer researches being done in the fields of science and technology worldwide. It covered topics like the Big Bang, building blocks of life, genes, senses, and universe.
The second theme focused on biodiversity within India and was modeled jointly by DST and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It covered the diverse aspects of life in Trans-Himalayan and the Himalayan regions, the Gangetic Plains, the North Easterns hilly areas, the deserts, the coastal Western Ghats, the Deccan Plateau, and various islands. A "Kids Zone" was also introduced for fun activities like puzzles and games related to science.{{cite web |url=http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=94578 |title=Science Express: Biodiversity Special |author=Tiwari, Sudhir |work=Press Information Bureau |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823163424/http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/mbErel.aspx?relid=94578 |url-status=live }}
The third theme was designed for Climate Change and was developed as collaborative work between DST, MoEFCC, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Railways, Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The ninth phase of the exhibition had 16 coaches of which eight were developed by MoEFCC.{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158456 |title=Ninth Phase of Science Express to Criss-Cross India till September this Year Curtain Raiser |work=Press Information Bureau |date=14 February 2017 |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823163238/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158456 |url-status=live }} Solar panels have been installed on rooftop of some coaches and facilities to train teachers is also available. A team from the VASCSC, which manages the entire exhibit, guides students through the exhibition and also engages into activities on the railway platform.{{cite web |url=http://www.natgeotraveller.in/science-express-a-school-on-wheels-coming-to-a-railway-station-near-you/ |title=Science Express: A School on Wheels is Coming to a Railway Station Near You |work=National Geographic Traveller |date=22 February 2017 |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=27 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627092737/http://www.natgeotraveller.in/science-express-a-school-on-wheels-coming-to-a-railway-station-near-you/ |url-status=live }} Dilip Sarkar, executive director of VASCSC said that the exhibit aims to "transform the vehicle into a people's movement and motivate them to take individual actions to fight climate change".{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/science-express-to-remain-open-for-all-today-tomorrow/articleshow/57948644.cms |title=Science Express to remain open for all today, tomorrow |work=The Times of India |date=1 April 2017 |place=Patna |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=17 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617070445/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/science-express-to-remain-open-for-all-today-tomorrow/articleshow/57948644.cms |url-status=live }}
The exhibition while in its eighth phase had travelled for {{Convert|142000|km}} and halted at 455 stations together. In over 1,600 days for which it has been exhibited it has been visited by nearly 1.5 crore (15 million) people with students from over 33,800 schools.{{cite web |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158534 |title=‘Science Express Should Reach Out to more than Six Lakh Villages of The Country’: Anil Madhav Dave |work=Press Information Bureau |date=17 February 2017 |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823162443/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=158534 |url-status=live }} The exhibition thus held record of being the largest, the longest running and the most visited exhibition as noted in the Limca Book of Records.{{cite web |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/dedicated-to-climate-change-the-science-express-flagged-off/articleshow/57232540.cms |title=Dedicated to climate-change, the Science Express flagged |work=Economic Times |date=19 February 2017 |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913224036/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/dedicated-to-climate-change-the-science-express-flagged-off/articleshow/57232540.cms |url-status=live }}
Statistics
{{legend|#CEE8F0| Indicates ongoing tour|outline=blue|border=1px solid blue}}
Gallery
File:Science express.jpg|Science Express at Rayagada, Odisha in 2011
File:Science express bio diversity special 4.jpg|Students queue outside the train in 2014
File:SCIENCE EXPRESS CROWD.JPG|Interior of the exhibition in 2011
File:Science express bio diversity special 1.jpg|Exhibits of the Biodiversity Special in 2014
File:Science express bio diversity special 6.jpg|Activities conducted on the railway platform for the visitors
References
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External links
{{Commons category|Science Express}}
- [http://www.sciencexpress.in/about-science-express.html Official website]
{{Department of Science and Technology (India)}}
{{Indian Railways}}
Category:2007 establishments in Delhi
Category:Express trains in India