240 Young Scientists Participating in the Fifth Frontier Mountain District Children’s Science Festival
Announcement of Rs 1 Crore for the Frontier District Science Festival and Related Programmes
Steps to Connect the State’s STEM Labs with AI and Establish One Lab on Wheels in Every Development Block
Science and Innovation Centres to Be Established in All Districts of the State
Chief Minister Interacts with Young Scientists and Answers Their Questions
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday inaugurated the Fifth Frontier Mountain District Children’s Science Festival at Vivekananda Vidya Mandir Inter College in Mandalsera, Bageshwar. The festival has been organised under the aegis of the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST). A total of 240 selected young scientists from Chamoli, Champawat, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh are participating in the two-day festival.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs 1 crore for the Frontier District Science Festival and related programmes to encourage research and innovation. He announced that steps would be taken to connect the state’s STEM laboratories with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and establish one Lab on Wheels in every development block. The Chief Minister also announced the establishment of Science and Innovation Centres in all districts of the state.
The Chief Minister said the state government was working to promote science- and technology-based education in schools, while also encouraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and drone technology. He said it was essential to connect students with modern technology and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
The Chief Minister interacted with the young scientists participating in the festival and answered their questions. He encouraged the students to study extensively, work on new ideas and maintain their habit of asking questions. He said today’s young scientists would become the country’s leading scientists, engineers and researchers in the future. The younger generation would play an important role in realising the vision of a developed India by 2047.
The Chief Minister said that science festivals organised in frontier and mountainous regions provide a platform for students to showcase their talent while developing a scientific outlook, creativity and a spirit of innovation. He urged students to draw inspiration from the ideals of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, advance in the fields of science and research, and contribute to the development of the country and the state.
Emphasising the integration of modern technology into school education, the Chief Minister spoke about linking robotics and drone technology with education and organising a conference on women’s development and science. He said science and technology were being used to promote innovation, transparency in government services and smart agriculture in the state. A Science City is being developed in Dehradun, while a Science Centre is being developed in Champawat.
The Chief Minister said the state government was making efforts to promote local products through the House of Himalayas brand. Alongside this, opportunities for self-employment were also being encouraged in sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, beekeeping and homestays.
During the festival, teachers Kavita Harkotiya, Deep Chand Joshi, Harimohan Aithani and Khayali Dutt were honoured with awards for their outstanding work in the field of science.
Those present on the occasion included Kapkot MLA Suresh Gariya, Bageshwar MLA Parvati Das, state minister-ranked officials Shiv Singh Bisht and Bhupesh Upadhyay, District Panchayat Chairperson Shobha Arya, BJP State General Secretary Kundan Singh Parihar, UCOST Director General Prof. Durgesh Pant, District Magistrate Apurva Pandey, Superintendent of Police Jitendra Mehra, Chief Development Officer Naresh Kumar, and the school’s Principal, Avval Singh Topal, along with various public representatives, officials, teachers and young scientists.
