New Jalpaiguri Jan. 12: In a unique initiative to promote science among schoolchildren, a mobile exhibition on train is on for over two months and being taken to 57 cities across the country. Recently it reached the north Bengal.

The science exhibition uses video presentation and interactive sessions on train as the medium to generate curiosity and motivate individuals. It disseminates information about achievements in the ongoing science projects of India and Germany.

Science Express is a mobile exhibition on rails with German assistance and planned by Ahmedabad-based Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Railways.

The train has its stopover from one to five days at important railway junctions.

For students and teachers belonging to several schools of north Bengal, visiting the 13-coached Science Express recently at New Jalpaiguri was a novel experience, as they enjoyed learning science this exhibition in a train.

Using 300 large format visual images, over 150 video clips and multimedia exhibits showcases various research accomplishments made in the field of science and technology. The exhibition on wheels explains how scientists have uncovered some fundamental understanding of nature.

The special exhibition on wheels offers information on spaceships, cosmos, big bang theory and black hole besides topics like galaxies, biotechnology and renewable energy sources and computer application in medicine.

"In physics, chemistry and biology we gained an in-depth knowledge of these topics which went beyond our study books or school curriculum. Overall, we enjoyed it," said Monishika Roy, a student who visited the exhibition.

Science Express had commenced its student awareness journey through exhibition from New Delhi’s Safdarjung Railway Station on November 30, 2007. It will cover
15,000 kilometres on track on Indian Railways in nine months.

According to Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre, the exhibition is meant for students of standard nine and above since the exhibits are related to scientific understanding levels of such students.

"We are today showing in this exhibition about the developments in science and research in the world made in the last two years. Students can understand through this exhibition that science is not a mystery rather it is as simple as anything. because we are using the most modern communication technology, video interactive sessions,” said Ranganathan, Project Co-ordinator, VASCSC, Ahmedabad.

“We have first brought it down to their level to make them understand as to what are the intricacies of science and then what are the opportunities for somebody to take up science as a career," he added.

The ongoing exhibition will conclude on June 4, 2008. (ANI)