Science Express Flagged Off to Mark S&T Cooperation between India and Germany.

“Science Express”, a special exhibition mounted on a train as the result of a partnership in science and technology between India and Germany was flagged off today by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor Federal Republic of Germany at Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi. The exhibition on wheels explains how scientists have uncovered some fundamental understanding of nature.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Manmohan Singh was lavish with his compliments for the design teams, Department of Science & Technology and the Indian Railways for planning such a science exhibition that would reach people in 57 places. He expressed hope that the students would make best use of this opportunity to understand what drives a scientist to devote his time, energy, and ideas for finding solutions to new problems. He looked forward to similar outreach activities between the two countries.

Felicitating the scientists and engineers involved in the project, Dr Merkel, herself a researcher, expressed her confidence that this train will create a strong movement in the talented youth of India towards research in science.

After visiting some of the coaches, both the Chancellor and the PM waved green flags and the Science Express rolled off a gaily-decorated station to the cheering of the invitees.

The function began earlier as Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences welcomed the dignitaries and traced the developments of this project over the past few months that resulted in Max Planck Society, Germany designing a state of art exhibition for mounting in AC Coaches. He said that as it was not possible to get the famous Science Tunnel in time, the alternative strategy for an exhibition on a train is definitely more effective. Many organizations from Germany and India are associated with this, he added, which would be available for counseling and guidance of interested youth at each halt.

The Science Express is a special train that will have three days of exhibition in 57 places over the next nine months. It has large screen displays for audio-visual experience, interactive computers and many other attractions in each of the coaches. The exhibition seeks to address issues from micro-cosmos to macro-cosmos through twelve stories. The Kids’ Lab of BASF will be an attraction at each station. It answers how scientists have uncovered our understanding of the Universe, its beginning, its current size, and many other questions. It also raises issues of sustainable development and how scientists are concerned about finding practical solutions for protecting our planet.

(Please pickup photographs from PIB website www.pib.nic.in). Following is the tentative schedule of the Science Express.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : October 30, 2007