Gangtok, Oct 14 (PTI) The Sikkim Science Centre at Marchak is set for a proposed major upgrade, with a new mathematics gallery, interactive children’s park, virtual reality facility and modernised science exhibits among the key additions planned under a Centre-state funding scheme, an official said.
A three-member technical team from the National Science Centre (NSC), Guwahati, led by its director Sujay Majumder, inspected the facility on October 13 to assess infrastructure requirements and identify spaces for the proposed modernisation, the Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology said in a press statement on Wednesday.
The proposed upgrade will be taken up under the Ministry of Culture’s Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS), with the Centre and the state sharing the cost in a 90:10 ratio, according to the statement.
The plan includes a new mathematics gallery, a children’s park with interactive mathematics exhibits, an upgraded Unique Humankind Gallery, a virtual reality (VR) chair facility and a dedicated children’s corner, it said.
The proposal also envisages two television studios, a 3D printer, a 3D film and a telescope, alongside the relocation of the office and library and upgrading of the auditorium.
These additions are aimed at making science learning more interactive and engaging, particularly for school students and young visitors, the council said.
The technical team also assessed the condition of existing facilities, including the 3D Theatre, Digital Planetarium and telescope, to identify operational problems and requirements for repairs, maintenance and technical support.
The inspection was conducted jointly with officials of the Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology, including Principal Director Suman Thapa and Deputy Director Rupesh Kumar Pradhan, the statement said.
The proposed interventions are expected to improve the functioning of existing facilities while introducing new opportunities for hands-on learning and experiential science education, it added.
The council said the modernisation initiative would strengthen the centre’s role in promoting scientific temper, nurturing curiosity and creativity, and popularising science and technology among students and the general public.
Located at Marchak in Namli, the Sikkim Science Centre functions under the Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology, Government of Sikkim.
The technical inspection marks a step towards identifying the infrastructure and operational requirements for the proposed revamp, the statement said. The modernisation plan is intended to make the centre a more contemporary destination for science education and public engagement. PTI COR RG
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.