- ICFAI Tech, Hyderabad hosts a five-day DST INSPIRE Internship Science Camp, inspiring young minds with lectures, experiments and discussions.
ICFAI Tech, Hyderabad inaugurated five-day Dept of Science and Technology (Govt of India) INSPIRE Internship Science Camp on January 6, 2025 at its campus located on Shankerpally Road. The event is scheduled from January 6 to 10, 2025. The camp aimed to ignite young minds’ scientific curiosity and inspire them to pursue careers in science and research.
The camp will featured interactive lectures, hands-on experiments and group discussions led by DST mentors, sparking a passion for science among students. The DST INSPIRE Internship Science Camp at ICFAI Tech reaffirms the institute’s dedication to fostering scientific inquiry and preparing the next generation of innovators to contribute to India’s scientific and technological advancement.
The Chief Guest, Bhujanga Rao, Scientist and Former Director of DRDO and Chairman of KIMS Foundation and Research Center, inspired students with his thought-provoking address. He highlighted the critical role of science and technology in nation-building and encouraged students to “dream big,” quoting Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Rao also spoke about the qualities of curiosity, creativity and courage as essential for scientific exploration and urged students to identify the type of scientist they aspire to be.
Drawing from global examples, Rao shared stories of innovation from countries like Switzerland and Sweden, highlighting iconic advancements such as ball bearings, Spotify, and Skype. He emphasised that innovation is not dependent on a country’s size but on its people’s creativity and determination. He also elaborated India’s scientific achievements, including Aryabhata, PSLV missions, DRDO submarines and the engineering marvels of tunnels in the Himalayas. He inspired students with insights into advancements in smart systems and artificial intelligence, including his invention of AI-based navigation systems for visually impaired individuals.
M. Jayananda, a distinguished geoscientist and Adjunct Professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, delivered a detailed lecture on “Dynamics of the Evolving Earth and Building Habitable Continents.” Jayananda provided a comprehensive overview of the Earth’s systems, including, the solar system and the Earth’s radiative energy balance. Earth’s layered structure, energy transfer, and plate tectonics, including the formation of continents, lithosphere dynamics, and the interaction between continental and seafloor rocks. Natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. The interconnectedness of Earth’s four spheres: geosphere, atmosphere (layers like troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and ionosphere), hydrosphere, and biosphere. The role of Earth Sciences in addressing global challenges like climate change, urbanisation, pollution, sea level rise, shrinking ice sheets, and natural disasters.
Shakeel Ahmed, a leading Earth scientist and founder of the Indo-French Centre for Groundwater Research, emphasised the crucial role of curiosity in scientific exploration. Reflecting on his own career, he spoke about how a fascination with the natural world, particularly groundwater systems, led him to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. He urged students to embrace their curiosity, challenge existing paradigms and pursue their questions with a passion for discovery.
L.S. Ganesh, Vice Chancellor of ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, Hyderabad, delivered the inaugural address, emphasising the importance of goal setting and fostering scientific inquiry among students to nurture their potential and drive innovation. K.L. Narayana, Director, ICFAI Tech, who underscored the importance of harmonising technological advancements with the timeless principles of the Indian value system, Sanatana Dharma. V. Srilalitha, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry also spoke.
