When science met drama

Newindpress, 26th April, 2008

BHUBANESWAR: DRAMA is a powerful way to communicate and in order to popularise science among schoolkids it can be an effective medium. And it was aptly realised at the State-level science drama competition at Regional Science Centre (RSC) here.Organised by Directorate of Teacher Education and State Council for Education, Research and Training (TE & SCERT), Orissa in association with Inspector of Schools Khurda Circle, the participants tried to address contemporary issues relating to science with dramatics.The State-level competition was meant to select one team for the next East zone regional level to be held at Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata, on July 10 among 13 states. Last year Ranpur High School from Khurda Circle made it to the national level, said Bijaya Patra, deputy director TE & SCERT.Three teams were present, ie. Chichuguda High School, Kalahandi with its drama ‘Barsha Asuchi’ (The Rain is coming), Ratnakar Bagh Town High School, Nilagiri, Balasore district with ‘Jalara Artanada’ (Wailing of Water) and Sarada Vihar High School, Puri with ‘Jala Amara Jeebana’ (Water is our life). As expected, the issue of water emerged the most favoured topic among the participants as the world over scarcity of rainfall, short supply of drinking water, irrigation and privatisation of water bodies have become the major issue giving rise to several conflicting situations. Chichuguda High School won the first prize.