‘Science Express’ is a novel mobile exhibition which has been touring the length & breadth of India since it was flagged off by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, and Dr. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor on 30 October 2007. This state-of-the-art classroom-on-wheels is displayed in a 16 Coach AC train especially fabricated by Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala. The exhibition has been primarily developed by Max Planck Society Germany (MPS) in collaboration with Department of Science & Technology and features over 300 large format visual images, 150 video clips, multimedia exhibits and a laboratory.

Phase-1

The inaugural run of the ‘Science Express’ was launched from Delhi Safdarjung with fanfare. Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre Ahmedabad (VASCSC), a well known organization devoted to popularization of science, was entrusted with the day-to-day management of this distinctive project. A dedicated team comprising of about 30 well qualified Science Communicators, selected through a comprehensive country-wide selection process, was deployed to facilitate the visitors in understanding the content of the exhibits. The project received tremendous support from BASF India, the chemical giant, which put up their exclusive Kids’ Lab having interesting experiments in Chemistry on board besides sponsorship of many other aspects.

The arrival of this innovative train at each station was preceded by campaign and activities aimed at attracting the target audience to the exhibition that included interaction with the media and contact with local schools and colleges.

After its successful tour to 57 locations that attracted 22.5 lakh visitors, a closing ceremony was held, where the dignitaries present on the occasion acclaimed the achievements of this initiative and asked Department of Science & Technology to do an encore but to cover places not visited earlier.

Phase-2

Enthused by its extraordinary success, Department of Science & Technology decided to take the Science Express on another run. Max Planck Society also readily agreed to the proposal as it decided to retain the exhibits with Department of Science & Technology except a few that were taken on loan from various museums in Europe and had to be returned.

Acknowledging the successful management of first phase, Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre was again entrusted with the task of coordinating the second phase. Their responsibilities included development and sourcing of indigenous exhibits in place of those taken back to Germany; replacing Kids’ Lab by Joy-of-Science lab, which was developed in-house with experiments in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Electronics; repairs & maintenance and managing the project in the interim period and throughout its journey of six months across India.

The second phase, started on 30 November 2008, ‘Science Express’ visited about 50 new destinations, mostly Tier-II &III cities. Over 13.5 lakh people explored issues and challenges of science in a fascinating manner and also delved into the mysteries of our world, groundbreaking discoveries, emerging issues, cutting-edge in science and future-oriented technologies. Over 20,000 students conducted hands-on experiments in ‘Joy-of- Science Lab’. A new facet was celebration of ‘Year of Astronomy’ by using Planetarium software in one of the coaches which displayed several astronomical features. It was also shown during outreach presentations by the team to over 50,000 students in various schools and colleges en route.

After its tour of six months across India, a valediction function was organized at Department of Science & Technology on 30 May 2009. Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences (I/C) was the Chief Guest. He congratulated ‘Team Science Express’ on the stupendous achievements and asked it to continue this one-of-its-kind programme.

Phase-3

The continued success of this mega classroom-on-wheels prompted Department of Science & Technology to initiate the third Phase on 2 October 2009 from Gandhinagar where it had to be shifted due to several constraints in obtaining in Delhi. More indigenous exhibits were inducted in place of some that became redundant, a dedicated coach on ‘Climate Change’, which was fully sponsored by HSBC Bank, was added and due emphasis given to Career Counseling. Petroleum Conservation Research Association contributed several posters and exhibits giving useful tips on saving energy and also distributed booklets & leaflets on related issues while Nestle Ltd. displayed some unique posters on Food and Nutrition.

The third phase programme concluded on 27 April 2010 at Gandhinagar. Over 16 lakh visitors thronged the exhibition while about 50,000 students conducted hands-on experiments. Further, about 10,000 young students have been counseled about career options in Science & Technology in addition to over 50,000 students participating in activities related to Climate Change on and off the platforms.

Unique Achievements

So far, over 5 million people have enjoyed the ‘Science Express’ experience across India at about 150 locations. It has entered the Limca Book of Records with four records in its name. The exhibition has been visited by a range of dignitaries including Governors, Chief Ministers, Union and State Ministers, Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, Scientists, Vice Chancellors and Heads of Institutions, District Collectors, Senior Officials, Corporate heads and so on. It has received extensive media coverage with over 1000 stories/news items in most major national & local newspapers, TV Channels, Radio Stations, cable TV and so on. In every city where it made a halt, ‘Science Express’ was the talk of the town during its stay there and even afterwards.

There were many other ‘firsts’ that were achieved by this innovative programme. On its arrival at Udhampur, even before it was opened to public, a group of disadvantaged students visited ‘Science Express’ under supervision of the Army. At Udaipur, ‘Science Express’ team visited local Jail and interacted with over 900 inmates and a Planetarium was also organized for them. At Cooch Behar, Tinsukia and Rangia in the North East, BSF & CRPF personnel, posted at the Border and patrolling sensitive areas, were given exclusive tour of the train while at Sealdah deprived students of a school being run in Raj Bhavan spent a day in the train. Hands-on experiments were specially conducted for the juvenile children at ‘Observation Centre’ at Trichy.

Creating an Awakening

‘Science Express’, a flagship project of Department of Science & Technology, has been a great learning experience for all its stakeholders. It has received overwhelming response and enabled Department of Science & Technology to reach out to people across the length & breadth of the country and rekindle their interest in science using interesting, informative and interactive formats coupled with activities, competitions, film shows, etc. at railway platforms. The feedback received from the visitors indicates that it has been able to not only inculcate scientific temperament amongst the masses but also motivate and guide the young generation in pursuing Science as a career.

Future Course of Action

With the success so far, there is huge demand and also need for continuing this journey since there are several uncovered areas and many small cities and towns where it has not reached so far. About 40 more locations, where this programme has not been displayed and where it is feasible to halt this train, can still be covered in another run with most of the existing exhibits. It is possible to replace several exhibits which have either outlived their utility or become redundant by interesting indigenous exhibits that highlight our own capabilities and achievements in the related field.

After the termination of Phase-III on 27 April 2010, the rake has been sent for Repair & Maintenance or Preventive Overhaul (POH) by Indian Railways before it is declared Fit for Travel and allowed to embark on the proposed fourth phase. The Phase IV is expected to be launched in November 2010.