A young educational enterprise is engaging middle and high school students in a curiosity-driven learning experience in biology that takes them beyond their textbooks. The teachers/mentors are undergraduate and postgraduate students of biology with a flair for science outreach, who too benefit from the engagement by gaining a deeper understanding of basic biological concepts.
How do you perceive a social media news of a common snack being made of plastic? Or that fast foods never decay? The new currency notes carrying nano-GPS chips? Test such news before dismissing it (or accepting it) - the experiments are surprisingly simple, rational and logical. An excellent opportunity to instil the practice of enquiry-based learning.
An ecologist and her game designer friend put their heads together to create a game where players build their own mixed species bird flocks using ecological principles. It has the potential of finding its way among a growing list of games that are anchored in science.
Rohini researches on science popularisation at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education. She designs experiments and worksheets for school students. She shares her experience with Vigyan Pratibha, a unique learning space developed for middle school students.