Venue: Common Room, ICT Mumbai
On 18th September, 2022 we organised a Foldscope Workshop for the children of the helping staff of ICT, Mumbai. It was great to see them delightfully build their optical microscope to analyse samples like algae, butterfly, larvae, fungi, flowers and leaves. They surely developed an enhanced keenness in observing nature and it's intricate patterns around. At the end of the workshop, they not only took along their mini microscopes but also a thrill to embark on a scientific exploration of everything around them!
Depending on the students’ levels of comfort, parts of the workshop were conducted simultaneously in 3 languages: Hindi, Marathi, and English. We were assisted by Ms. Sonali Kadam and her team with the workshop. We are highly grateful to them.
Objective was to provide them with an opportunity to explore and we also made them have a look around our labs. This hopefully may have motivated them and generated excitement to pursue science. We also had an intention of having them analyse nature more carefully. When they saw algae and yeast being present on surfaces, we explained to them on how bacteria and infection can be transmitted even though they may not be able to see it with the naked eye. We accentuated good sanitary practices and thorough washing of hands before and after meals. We correlated these learnings with how sanitation practices and wearing of masks could help them be safer in pandemic situations. It is said that you truly learn a concept when you are able to teach it to someone else. We provided them with one extra Foldscope kit each to take home and teach a friend of theirs everything that they had learnt.
It is convenient as well as deeply satisfying for us to make an impact in the lives of the underprivileged students of the helping staff of our university. They reside within the campus and we also have ample of facilities and resources available that can be used. We wish to pursue this achievable endeavour with all our heart and love and have already begun the noble process. For all we may know, one of them could be a part of our iGEM team in the coming years!!
Following are the drawings made bu students:
Following is the student feedback form: