First mega-science show begins in Mumbai, on agenda Big Bang theory & evolution of stars

The multi-city exhibition, Vigyan Samagam, will have displays about humankind’s major discoveries, and India’s role in global scientific projects.

India's first multi-venue mega-science exhibition was inaugurated in Mumbai. | Twitter @vigyansamagam

Bengaluru: India’s first ‘mega-science’ exhibition ‘Vigyan Samagam’ begins Wednesday at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai.

The two-month exhibition in the city will include programmes and displays seeking to highlight India’s participation in the international science community and contribution to the fields of various sciences.

Organised by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), the multi-city exhibition has been facilitated by the Ministry of Culture.

After Mumbai, the exhibition will move to Bengaluru from 7 July, and on to Kolkata and then New Delhi, on a 11-month journey.

Agenda

From the story of the Higgs boson particle, gravitational waves from the mergers of black holes and neutron stars, to the origin of the Universe and the Big Bang theory, the evolution of stars, the Vigyan Samagam exhibition intends to take visitors through the discoveries that have helped humankind understand the universe so far.

The exhibition will also talk about the role India and Indians play in ‘mega’ science projects that are international collaborations. This will including projects like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR), India-based Neutrino Observatory’ (INO), International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory’ (LIGO), Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) and Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

“The exhibition will have theme-based galleries of posters, working models and exhibits, informative audio-visual content and electronic displays and interactive kiosks will be setup for each of the Mega Science Projects,” Arun Srivastava, secretary AEC and chief of DAE’s Institutional Collaboration and Program Division, said in a statement.

“The inaugural event at every venue will be followed by a two-day scientific event comprising invited talks and lectures by eminent speakers from the field of science, technology and industry,” added Srivastava.

Vigyan Samagam will also have participants who represent organisations like CERN, FAIR, INO, ITER, LIGO, TMT, SKA, among others.

Public engagement

The exhibition aims to provide an interactive platform for science enthusiasts and students to interact with the accompanying traveling scientists.

“The exhibition will also aim to connect with school children, students and aspirants who want to pursue fundamental science and research as a strong career option. It also provides a unique platform to all stakeholders for cross-fertilisation of ideas,” said Praveer Asthana, head of INSPIRE & Mega-Science Divisions, DST.

The exhibition is open to all members of the public on all seven days of the week, including holidays, between 10 am and 6 pm. More details for the exhibition are available at www.vigyansamagam.in.