Workshop organised on “Usage of Foldscope as an Education and Research Tool” at Rolin Modern School, Nongsder, Meghalaya under Department of Biotechnology funded projects at Rolin Modern School, Nongsder, Umiam
One-day workshop on theme of “Usage of Foldscope as an Education and Research Tool” was organised by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam in association with twinning institute, Smt. C.H.M College, CHM Road, Ulasnagar, 421003, Thane, Maharashtra, on 26th April, 2019 at Rolin Modern School, Nongsder, Umiam. This workshop was organised with a major objective to benefit different strata of students and to democratise science in Meghalaya under financial assistance from the funding agency, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
From host institute, Dr A. Ratankumar Singh, PI & Scientist along with the Junior Research Fellows Ms Sushanti Thokchom (DBT-Foldscope), Mr Y. Suraj Singh (DBT-Tree bean) of Plant Pathology Section, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya and the twining partner institute, Dr Sharda A Vaidya (PI and Associate Professor) and Mr Prashant Patil (Assistant Professor) of Department of Botany, Smt. C.H.M College, CHM Road, Ulasnagar, 421003, Thane, Maharashtra were also attended in the workshop.
During the commencement of the programme, the principal of the Rolin Modern School expressed his warm welcome to the visiting PIs, staffs of ICAR and also the students, staffs and non-teaching staffs of Rolin Modern School. After giving introductory speech by Dr (Mrs) Sharda A Vaidya and Mr Prashant Patil, the programme was followed by assemblage and demonstration of Foldscope and its parts, preparation of slides, capturing images via smartphone, etc. Plant disease samples (collected from nearby fields), pond water, soil suspension, pollen grains were observed under the Foldscope and captured the images through smartphone. Later on, the students were also given hands on learning in the handling and visualization of the samples on their own. Forty-nine (49) students comprising of class I to VIII were actively participated the workshop. The PI of the Project, Dr A. Ratankumar Singh also narrated the story on the invention of Foldscope by Dr Manu Prakash, Professor, Stanford University, USA and its utility in present day science. An assembled ready to use foldscope has been presented to the principal for utilization in the school to gain knowledge of microbes world. He concluded the workshop by delivering a message to all the students and the teachers to take keen interest in the field of science and also mentioned how a simple innovation can change the shape of the science in a society. He highlighted the importance of microscopy and inspired the students to follow up innovative skills and ideas like the Foldscope in present day science.
