Science Programs for High School Students

How school students can get exposure to research

Deciding a career path during school days is quite a daunting task. As much as it’s nice for more children to take up careers in scientific fields, it is very important to first make sure that you do love the subject. One way of knowing this is to participate in science programs conducted by various institutes. These programs are aimed at providing students with exposure to science and research, and students can use this exposure to gauge whether a career in science is their cup of tea. With that out of the way, lets look at some of the programs available to high school students in India.

Various Public Programmes at IUCAA

IUCAA (The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India) organises several programs for school students and the general public. These include

• Lecture & Demonstration Programme
• Basic Astronomy Workshops
• Summer School Projects

among others.

Prerna – Summer Schools in Science & Mathematics

The Society for Promotion of Science and Technology in India (SPSTI) arranges free summer schools for boys and girls of classes 9-12. These are aimed at improving the basics of science and mathematics of school students. Undergraduate and postgraduate students of reputable institutes in India act as tutors and mentors during these summer schools.

Summer Outreach Camp - IISER Bhopal

Every year, IISER Bhopal conducts a summer outreach program for a week to promote science among high school students and to inculcate an aptitude to appreciate the role and contribution of science in the betterment of mankind. Students who are studying in classes IX, X, XI all over India can apply. It provides an apt platform for students who are at the crossroads of choosing a pathway for a particular career. This program has successively attracted more participants with each passing year.

• Duration: month of May
• Eligibility: Students who would be studying in classes IX, X, XI as of May
• Registration fee: Rs. 2000/- (this covers lodging and food)

Sci-Tech Spins - IIT Delhi

Under this initiative, IIT Delhi professors engaged in cutting edge research in science, technology and allied fields will deliver lectures and conduct laboratory demonstrations every month starting September 2021 in virtual mode. School students currently enrolled in Grades 9 and above can be nominated for Sci-Tech Spins by their respective schools. Each school may nominate up to four students. All registered students attending the lectures will be given e-certificates of participation at the end of each weekend session.

Summer School Students Workshop - IMSC Chennai

This is a Mathematics and Science workshop for high school students organized by graduate students of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc). It is usually conducted in the month of May. The program is intended for students who are going into class X. The workshop consist of activity sessions, lectures and research talks in a range of topics by students and professors of the institute.

• Eligibility: high school students
• Program duration: month of May

DHRUV (Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme)

The Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme - DHRUV has been started by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India to identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge. In the 2019 edition, 30 students were invited from arts and science each. The students had been broadly chosen from classes 9 to 12, from all schools including government and private. Each group from science stream were required to produce a project under the mentorship of experts from the field of science

• Eligibility: Classes 9-12
• Program duration: month of October

YUVIKA (Young Scientist Programme) - ISRO

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organising a special programme for School Children called “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram” , YUVIKA, to impart basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications to the younger students with a preference to rural areas. The YUVIKA - 2022 residential programme will be of two weeks duration during summer holidays (May 16-28, 2022) and the schedule will include invited talks, experience sharing by the eminent scientists, experimental demonstration, facility and lab visits, exclusive sessions for discussions with experts, practical and feedback sessions.

• Deadline: April 10, 2022, 04:00 p.m.

• Program duration: May 16-28, 2022

VIJYOSHI - National Science Camp

The aim of the annual National Science (Vijyoshi) Camps is to provide a forum for interactions between bright young students and leading researchers in various branches of science and mathematics. With boundaries between disciplines fast disappearing, these camps serve as an ideal platform for the young participants to get an exciting global viewpoint of questions relating to basic sciences as well as application oriented themes. A comprehensive program is usually designed for the participants. This includes thought provoking lectures followed by a round of discussion at the end of each day’s program.

Vigyan Jyoti

The Department of Science & Technology started a unique program ‘Vigyan Jyoti’ for meritorious girls with the aim to address the under-representation of women in different fields of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the country. The Vigyan Jyoti envisaged hand-holding and interventions right from the school level i.e., Class IX and which will continue till the PhD level to encourage girls to pursue a career in underrepresented areas of STEM. Various activities such as science camps, special lectures/ classes, counselling of students and parents, interaction with role models, tinkering activities, visit to Knowledge Partners/ Research Labs/ Industries/ NGOs are being conducted in the programme in order to motivate girls.

IISER Bhopal Summer outreach camp

The camp aims to enable the participants to understand the central role of science in society. This camp will introduce participants to fascinating topics in natural and engineering sciences through lectures and hands-on laboratory exercises. This exposure will be supplemented with critical perspectives from the Humanities and Social Sciences. Additionally, there will be fun activities through which the participants can interact with the senior students.