Online Homi Bhabha Science Session by Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya
May 26, 2023
On May 26th, Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya, the Director of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, conducted a highly interactive online science session. The session attracted a remarkable turnout of 1437 participants, including CERC students, CERC teachers, and Aspire core staff. Prof. Bhattacharya, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions in Frugal Engineering to tackle health challenges economically, possesses a PhD in Science from IIT Mumbai. His remarkable achievements include receiving the prestigious 2010 Homi-Bhabha Award in Science Education and the 2012 Chevening Rolls-Royce Fellowship for Science and Innovation Leadership.
During the session, Prof. Bhattacharya captivated the audience with a series of engaging paper-based activities.
These activities involved:
Demonstrating the different tearing properties of paper vertically and horizontally due to variations in fibre composition.
Teaching participants how to create a functioning helicopter by folding and cutting an A4 size paper.
Guiding participants in constructing a Mobius Strip through folding and interlocking paper strips.
Conducting a bridge experiment that showcased the balance achieved when supporting a mobile phone with folded paper on two glasses.
Demonstrating paper chromatography, where participants could observe colour changes on paper strips submerged in water.
Utilising a paper strip to explain the solar system and illustrate proportional distances between planets.
This online science session served as an excellent platform for Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya to share his expertise and engage participants in a hands-on learning experience. The event particularly benefited ASPIRE staff and students, offering them valuable insights and practical knowledge in an interactive and immersive manner.
