Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: A two-day Science Festival was jointly organized by Shri Nirakar Education Society’s S. S. Angle Higher Secondary School, Mashem, Canacona and Goa State Council for Science and Technology Saligao on February 22 and February 23, 2024.
The event was supported by the National Council for Science, Technology and Communication Government of India, New Delhi.
National Science Day is an annual celebration in India, observed on February 28th every year, to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on the day in 1928.
The theme of National Science Day 2024 celebrations is “Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat”. The theme reflects the increased focus of the government on the indigenization of technologies.
S. S. Angle Higher Secondary School has been organizing the Science Day annually for the last 13 years involving high schools and higher secondary schools from Canacona.
Nirakar Education Society Secretary Nanda Satarkar was the Chief Guest at the inaugural ceremony. Teacher Trupti Prabhu compered the inaugural programme.
At the valedictory function Kalpesh Verenkar, a Grade I Biology Teacher was the Chief Guest. Verenkar spoke on the evolution of the Science Day Celebrations and said that “The first National Science Day was celebrated in India on February 28, 1987, a year after the Government of India designated this day as National Science Day in 1986, upon the recommendation of the National Council for Science, Technology and Communication (NCSTC), to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect by Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman in 1928.
Verenkar also said that “Promoting Indigenous Technologies for Vikashit Bharat” will help address global concerns and emphasized the need to make India ‘Atma Nirbhar’ through science.” He also stressed on the need to foster a scientific temperament particularly among students and added that teachers have to upgrade themselves to meet the challenges and be a step ahead of students.
Shri Nirakar Education Society Chairman Prashant Naik presiding over the valedictory programme, spoke on the works of noted film and stage actor Shriram Lagoo, a vocal rationalist who was closely associated with the anti-superstition movement in Maharashtra. Naik also said that it is very important to question everything and not to accept anything on the face value.
Five different competitions were organized as part of the two days’ celebrations. The winners of the competition are as follows. Skit: Shradhanand Vidyalaya (first) Tudal High School (second) Govt. H. S. S. (Third) Documentary: Shradhanand Vidhyalaya(first) Shri Nirakar Vidyalaya (second) Gurukul High School, Khola (third) Quiz: Mallikarjun H.S.S. (first) Shri Nirakar Vidyalaya (second) St. Sebastian High School (third) Bamboo basket painting: Govt. H. S. S. (First) Balram Day Care School (second) Shradhanand Vidyalaya (third) Science Project: Shri Nirakar Vidyalaya (first)Mallikarjun H.S.S. (second) Balram Day Care School(third). All together twelve schools from Canacona participated in the science festival.
Principal of S.S. Angle Higher Secondary School welcomed and introduced the Chief Guest. Freeda Fernandes compeered the programme. Biology Teacher Chandralekha Damodar Mestri was the Science Day Festival Coordinator.
