Warana Science & Innovation Activity Centre (WSIAC)

Collaborative efforts of the HEI with Warana Science and Innovation Activity Centre, Warananagar (WSIAC) to popularize science

Warana Science & Innovation Activity Centre (WSIAC), is inaugurated on 24th Feb, 2017 by Hon. Dr. Anil Kakodkar with the aim popularizing Science in rural part of Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg districts.

Till date more than 19700 students have visited this centre.

Under the able guidance & support of Hon. President Dr. Vinayji Kore (Savkar) centre conducts various activities for all the stakeholders of Science Education including students and teachers.

Objective of the practice:

• To make society superstition free by popularizing science;
• To simplify science concepts through activity-based learning;
• Science popularization – mainly among rural society.

The Context: Science is the prime element behind every day-to-day activity. In urban area, availability of human resource and other essential facilities led students & common public to enhance their interest in science whereas the rural society is lagging back. Lack of awareness about scientific concepts affecting their health issues and living standard. Countryside public is more superstitious because of scientific illiteracy about planets & planetary motion; harmful environmental condition; women & children health etc.

The Practice:

To inculcate the scientific approach among young minds and common public, WSIAC was established in 2017. Principal of TKCP is expediting additional duty as Principal Coordinator of this WSIAC, since inception. He has putted sincere efforts in fetching grants from RGSTC, Govt. of Maharashtra to set WSIAC. The human resource i.e. 5 scientific officers for the day-to-day functioning of the WSIAC is provided by TKCP. We are working tireless, to organise events, workshops, competitions, visits etc. for school and college students, teachers and other stakeholders.

Few to mention activities are;

• ‘Toys from trash’ workshop for school students;
• Awareness campaign about cancer, breast feeding, women health problems, malnutrition, safe use and storage of medicines;
• Sky gazing; Competitions and public talks on social issues etc

Pre-eminent organizations are collaborators of the activities, like;

• Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi;
• Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai (NSC’s);
• Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai;
• Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune etc.

Evidence of Success:

Rural and urban public in various districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka visits the facilities like innovation lab, fun science lab, multipurpose hall & outdoor exhibits available in WSIAC and get wondered about the simplest ways of understanding the science in daily life. People visiting the centre get impressed & delighted about having and being accessible such infrastructure in rural part.

They explore the science and understand the concepts in science the way they cannot forget. 100000+ students visited the Mobile Science Exhibition Van during academic year 2019-20. Considering the huge response for Van, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman RGSTC, decided to launch the book in Warana.

Visitor gets world class experience at planetarium.

• WSIAC has become revolutionary model to popularize science;
• More than 50000 people, particularly school students from Maharashtra and Karnataka have visited the facility (innovation lab, fun science lab, multipurpose hall and outdoor exhibits and planetarium) and explored science;
• 100000+ students visited the Mobile Science Exhibition Van during academic 2019-20;
• Around 1500 rural school students have taken advantage