Equipped with a state-of-the art planetarium, chief minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated the State’s first “Innovation Hub and Space Education Centre” at Science Centre, Supermarket here on Friday.
The new facility, a two-storeyed building, is an initiative of the Centre’s Department of Science & Technology, in collaboration with National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata.
Located on ground floor of the building, the innovation hub has various divisions like robotics, idea lab, design studio and chemistry and biology laboratory to help students quench their thirst for science and further innovate and experiment. The first floor has a 50-seater digital planetarium that will hold shows on mysteries of the universe and space.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Rio lamented that Nagaland had not done very well in the field of science and technology in comparison with other States, but hoped that setting up of the state-of-the art centre would provide a platform to young and inquisitive minds to experiment and come up with “innovative solutions to basic problems and challenges.”
The chief minister remarked, “These are not mere facilities but opportunities to introduce young minds of Nagaland to a whole new level where their ideas would be moulded and they can transform their ideas into reality.”
Stating by 2030 India would be among the top three nations in the field of science and technology, Rio explained that the challenge today was in ensuring that science and technology helped solve basic problems and meet aspirations of the people.
“How do we build roads that don’t get washed away by rains? How do we prevent landslides?
How do were control diseases and epidemics? These are basic governance issues that can be solved by science and technology,” he stressed.
The chief minister urged students present not to fully depend of government jobs and contracts, but make use of facility at Science Centre to “paint own canvas and soar high in sky.” He hoped the new facilities would help students to innovate and become successful entrepreneurs and help transform the economy.
He admitted that entrance of Science Centre was in a deplorable condition and assured that it would be beautified and roads are also improved.
Earlier, science & technology department adviser Mmhonlumo Kikon proposed creation of “Chief Minister’s Innovation Award” to promote innovation and scientific creativity among young minds of the State.
Narrating how young innovators from the State had regularly participated in various national and State-level seminars and congresses, Kikon said nine schools from Nagaland had been selected for establishing Atal Tinkering Labs Programme, a flagship of Atal Innovation Mission, designed to spark creativity and go beyond regular curriculum and textbook learning.
The adviser expressed optimism that the Innovation Hub and Space Education Centre would harness a generation of Nagas who would contribute towards socio-cultural and economic progress through application of science and technology aimed at a sustainable development of the State.
In his address, National Council of Science Museums director S Chaudhuri said the Innovation Hub and Space Education Centre came into being after four years of hard work. He expressed confidence that the facility would help students nurture new ideas and imbibe inquisitive outlook. He hoped the facility would also act as a springboard to propel the students to face challenges and address them.
The inaugural programme began with formal cutting of a ribbon by the chief minister, who then took a tour of the facility with a host of other dignitaries, including environment, forest & climate change and parliamentary affairs minister CM Chang, power department adviser Tovihoto Ayemi and Dimapur deputy commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel, among others.
The programme was chaired by science & technology department commissioner and secretary Dellirose M Sakhrie, who also delivered the welcome address. The invocation prayer was pronounced by Asia Pacific Baptist Federation former general secretary Rev P Bonny Resu and vote of thanks was delivered by senior scientific officer Dr Zavei Hiese.
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