Title - Science Express showcases biodiversity in India

Jalandhar:Hundreds of students from local schools visited the Science Express Biodiversity Special, a train exhibition, at the city railway station here today. The exhibition train, which is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Environment and Forests, will be remain on platform 1A of the station till April 20 and open for exhibition from 9 am to 5pm. Even as it is the third visit of the Science Express to Jalandhar, this is its first round after it took up the biodiversity theme last year.Of the 16 coaches in the train, eight are solely dedicated to showcasing the myriad biodiversity across bio-geographical zones of India. These include "Trans Himalayas and the Himalayas", "Gangetic Plain", "North-East India", "Desert and Semi-Arid Zone", "Western Ghats", "Deccan Peninsula", "The Coasts and the Islands".In eight coaches, the pictorial details of the critically endangered species, biodiversity hot spots and conservation measures were put up through 150 video clippings and 300 illuminated panels. One coach had an exhibition on climate change, biodiversity and water conservation. The next coach had an exhibition on energy conservation. A variety of cereals, corals, sea shells, textile items and other products made from nature were also on display. Pictures of rare flowers such as neela kurinji, which bloom only once in 12 years, were also on display. The exhibition also had immense detail on gharial, medicinal plants and various species of deer. Details of the Project Snow Leopard and UNESCO world heritage sites were also put up.

Activity zones

One of the coaches of the train has a "Kids Zone", where children of primary classes are being involved in science and mathematics activities through games and fun puzzles. There also are two more coaches where students are invited to perform hands on experiments related to mathematics, chemistry and physics at three counters set up for the purpose. All experiments are being done using non-acidic materials to avoid any untoward incidence. There also is a discussion room-cum-training centre for teachers wherein sessions will be held from tomorrow onwards. This room was today used to demonstrate experiments to a bunch of students such as those based on Boil's Law, Bernouli's principles and Pythagoras theorems.

36 science commentators

There were 36 commentators on board the train who explain the various concepts with regard to the exhibits. These commentators, most of whom include young girls, travel the length and the breadth of the country as a part of the job. Sudhir Kumar Sharma, manager, said every commentator was expected to remain on board at least 204 days a year. Whenever the train halts at a station, he arranged their lodging at good hotels in the city so that they could unwind.

Star gazing

The government school at Patara village has plans to organise a star-gazing activity using the high-end telescopes available with the Science Express team on the school premises late tomorrow evening. Noted science teacher Sanjeevan Singh Dadwal said the Science Express team, students and parents had been invited for the show.