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The IX Phase of the prestigious Science
Express exhibition train which is on a Nationwide tour since 17 February
2017 reached Madgaon in Goa today i.e. 11 July 2017. This phase of train is
being referred as ‘Science Express Climate Action
Special (SECAS)’ highlighting the global challenge of climate change. Minister of Railways Shri Suresh
Prabhakar Prabhu Inaugurated this Madgaon leg of Science Express today
through Video Conferencing from Delhi. SECAS is focusing on Climate
Change and Science & Technology. The exhibition conveys message about
Climate Change and is also a good opportunity to generate dialogue and
discussion. This exhibition train will be available for public viewing at
Madgaon from 11 to 13 July 2017, then the train will move forward to next
destinations as per its itinerary.
BACKGROUNDER-
Science
Express is a flagship programme of the Dept. of Science & Technology
(DST), Govt. of India. It is an innovative mobile science exhibition mounted
on a 16 coach AC train, traveling across India since October 2007. Since
then, it has made eight tours of the country, traveling about 1,53,000 km and
exhibiting at 495 locations. Over its 1712 exhibition days, Science Express
received an overwhelming response and 1.64 crore visitors. Science Express
has become the largest, the longest running and the most visited mobile
science exhibition and has twelve entries in the Limca Book of Records.
Science
Express Phase I to IV showcased cutting-edge research in Science and
Technology being carried out worldwide. Phase V to VII was based on the theme
of biodiversity and as ‘Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS)’, it
showcased the rich biodiversity of India and its conservation measures. Phase
VIII as ‘Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS)’ highlighted the
global challenge of climate change.
The
current ninth phase of the Science Express as SECAS II was flagged off on 17
Feb 2017 from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station by Shri Suresh Prabhu,
Minister of Railways; Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Science & Technology
and Earth Sciences; and Late Shri Anil Madhav Dave, Minister of State (I/C)
for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India. The current tour
of SECAS is scheduled from 17 Feb to 8 Sept 2017, during which it will be
exhibited at 68 stations across India, covering 19000 km. SECAS is focusing
on Climate Change and Science & Technology. The exhibition conveys message
about Climate Change and is also a good opportunity to generate dialogue and
discussion.
The SECAS II is a
unique collaborative initiative of Dept. of Science & Technology (DST),
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), Dept. of
Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Railways, Govt of India; Wildlife Institute
of India (WII) and Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC).
Climate
Change is an important environmental issue, with many short term and long
term impacts. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production,
to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the
impacts of climate change are not just global in scope and unprecedented in
scale but they also more severely affect the poor and marginalized people.
However, there is very little understanding about climate change and its
impacts. The state-of-the-art exhibition on board the SECAS aims to create
awareness among various sections of society as to how climate change can be
combated through mitigation and adaptation.
The
Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 Nov 2016. The Paris Agreement’s
central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate
change and to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of
climate change. The first session of the
Conference
of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement
(CMA 1) took place in Marrakech in November 2016. The Conference successfully
demonstrated to the world that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is
underway and the constructive spirit of multilateral cooperation on climate
change continues. Science Express, redesigned as SECAS, intends to contribute
towards increasing understanding of the science of climate change, the
observed and anticipated impacts, and different possible responses. The
previous 3 phases of Science Express were rolled out as a joint initiative of
DST and MoEFCC as Biodiversity Special and showcased the myriad
biodiversity of India. Thus it was rational to shift the focus to the theme
‘Climate Change’ as it will affect the biodiversity of not just India but the
entire globe as well.
Of
the 16 coaches of SECAS, exhibition in 8 coaches put up by MoEFCC, is
exclusively devoted to information, case studies and material related to
various aspect of Climate change, the underlying science, impacts, adaptation
activities, mitigation solutions and policy approaches in a manner that is
easy to understand and interesting for not just school students but also the
masses. In rest of the rake, there are exhibits and activities put up by DBT
and DST.
The broad theme
covered in each exhibition coach is as follows:
·
Coach 1: Understanding Climate Change - Insights
in the climate as a system, the greenhouse gas effect and the underlying
reasons for climate change with key message that the current change in the
climate is due to human activities.
·
Coach 2: Impact of Climate Change - How
temperature rise, monsoon variations, sea level rise are predicted to affect
vital sectors like water, agriculture, forests and biodiversity, and human
health and ways to reduce these.
·
Coach 3 & 4: Adaptation - Concepts of
adaptation and examples from day to day life, adaptation strategies and
stories from field. Adaptation options in urban and rural contexts and the
adaptation actions India is taking.
·
Coach 5 & 6: Mitigation - Concept and
definition with examples, emphasis on restoring balance, enhancing sinks and
reducing emission through Renewable Energy (RE) technologies. Various
programmes implemented by India and low carbon strategies and ambitious goal
to increase RE footprint.
·
Coach 7: International Negotiations for Climate
Change - Introduction to UNFCCC, IPCC and internationally agreed action &
targets. Explaining concept of equity and common but differential
responsibility, Kyoto protocol & other key outcomes of major COP, Paris
Agreement, etc.
·
Coach 8: Positive Actions - What can one do at
school, on roads, at home and in offices and focus on concept of lifestyle
choices with the key message ‘Increase your Handprint. Decrease your
Footprint’.
·
Coach 9 & 10: Exhibition put up by the
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt of India, covering themes like
Biotechnology for bioresources and nature conservation with emphasis on Tiger
Conservation and Chemical Ecology and India’s research and development
initiatives in field of Biotechnology.
·
Coach 11: Exhibition put up by the National
Innovation Foundation (NIF) showcasing select innovations, demonstrating the
ingenuity of common people and an innovative project which uses augmented
reality techniques. Also, exhibition on themes like Innovations in S&T,
Science Education, Technological solutions for societal development, etc.
·
Coach 12: A Kids Zone is set up for children from
Std. 5 and below to participate in fun-filled activities, games and puzzles
in science, mathematics and environment.
·
Coach 13: The Joy of Science (JOS) Hands-on Lab in
this coach is a space where students from Std. 6-10 can perform experiments
and activities to understand concepts in environment, science and mathematics
in an interesting manner. A training facility is also set up for orientation
of teachers here.
·
Solar panels have been installed on the rooftop of
Science Express coaches 11-13, as a collaborative effort of DST and CEL, for
harnessing solar energy.
At
each halt of SECAS, activities are planned to engage visitors across
different age groups to reinforce its message. An exciting and much
sought-after Outreach Programme is also conducted in local
schools/institutions along with activities on the railway platforms. In
addition, informative take-away material is made available for wider
distribution amongst schools and visitors.
DST
has entrusted Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC), Ahmedabad
with the task of managing the SECAS across India. VASCSC’s team of qualified,
trained and highly motivated Science Communicators travelling with the train
explain and interpret the exhibition, answers queries, facilitate the
visitors and conduct complementary activities.
The
exhibition is open to all but primarily targets students and teachers. More
information is available on the website www.sciencexpress.in. For
visit to the exhibition or any queries, please send an email to sciencexpress@gmail.com or contact the team aboard
the train on 09428405407. School students can participate in the JOS Lab in
small batches of up to 20 students, by prior registration.
Team-SECAS
solicits cooperation from all the concerned departments, media, institutions
and individuals in giving wider publicity to this prestigious
exhibition-on-wheels, so that a large number of visitors are benefited.
Please
Note
· The
exhibition is open to all.
· There
is no entry fee for visiting the exhibition.
· Not
allowed on the Science Express: Items like mobiles,
cameras, bags, match-boxes, cigarettes, beedis, tobacco, water bottles, any
liquid, and any sharp/ pointed objects.
· Venue:
Railway station of the respective city
· Timing:
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
· Refer
schedule for the dates at respective halts.
Science Express
Climate Action Special (SECAS II)
Schedule
17 February - 8
September 2017
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