Mohali, November 22
Nearly 300 students and 100 teachers from all over Punjab participated in the 14th state-level Children’s Science Congress-2006 organised by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology at Shivalik Public School here today.

The National Children’s Science Congress is an experiment to encourage natural curiosity, creativity, scientific temper and problem-solving skills for children in the age group of 10-17. The children participate at district, state and national levels under this programme. Each year, a broad theme is given under which projects are prepared and presented. The theme for CSC-2006 is “Biodiversity: nurture nature for our future”.

The participating children tried to frame projects under various sub-headings such as ‘Terrestrial Biodiversity’, ‘Aquatic Biodiversity’, ‘Biodiversity in man-made ecosystem’, ‘Conservation practices’, ‘Value addition to biodiversity’ and ‘Sustainable utilisation of bio-resources’ etc. Nearly 90 projects were presented. From the state, 16 projects would be selected for the national level CSC to be held at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Sikkim, from December 27 to 31.

The results of the state-level CSC would be announced tomorrow by Dr N.S. Tiwana, Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology.

A science exhibition on aerodynamics, health, biodiversity and information technology is also being organised by the PSCST for the participating students. Activity corners on science behind miracles, astronomy, mathematical laws, puppetry and food adulteration was also being organised. A poster-making and slogan-writing contest on the topic “Only earth supports life” was also held.

Chandigarh, November 22
The result of the joint Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) test for JRF and NET held on June 18 this year has been declared.

Prof D.C. Kataria, Director, Aryans Educational and Charitable Trust (AECT), said the result of UGC NET June 2006 for humanities and social sciences were still awaited and candidates were running pillar to post to know the result.

A total of 1518 candidates have qualified for the JRF and 1345 have qualified for NET in country in joint CSIR-UGC Exam this time. In June last year, this figure was 1652 and 784, respectively, which shows that number of NET qualified candidates have been increased drastically. Joint CSIR-UGC exam would be on December 24, 2006, in 25 centers all over India, while UGC NET exam for social sciences and humanities would be conducted on December 17, 2006.

Chandigarh, November 22
“Every school should have a counsellor,” stated Professor Jatinder Mohan, President, Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, while inaugurating the three-day symposia-cum-exhibition on education and learning at Panjab University here today.

He pointed out that two recent cases had come to light in the city in which a young boy lost his life after he was thrown out of a school and another case in which a girl student was allegedly subjected to sexual harassment at school. “These two cases would not have happened if the schools had counsellors who would intervene in such matters and resolve them,” said Dr Mohan.

The symposium has been organised by the Centre for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension (CACEE), Panjab University, in collaboration with EduCARE India. More than 70 school and college counsellors are participating in the symposium.

Dr Sween, Director of the centre affirmed that Education was the key facts in removing disparities and eradication of poverty. The India’s School Counsellors Association (ISCA) was also launched on the occasion.

Chandigarh, November 22
The three-day cultural bonanza of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21-C, started here today. The programme started with “Ganesh vandana” in which children offered their prayers to the Lord Ganesha — an embodiment of wisdom.

The puppet show gave a message that true happiness was in sharing.

A Punjabi play, ‘Rishtey’, was a soul-stirring item that made everyone think on our attitude towards the old and the aged people in our family. The play also highlighted the role of old age homes.

"Ramp-N-Rap", a colourful presentation of western and ethnic attires by students cast a spell on spectators. The colourful show highlighted the importance of seven colours in life. Red is symbolic of confidence, orange reflects vitality, people who like blue are calm and so on. It was a mesmerising journey of western and ethnic attire accentuated in their colourful best and the students cast their spell on the audience in a rhapsody of musical melody.

Next was a beautifully worded group song which conveyed the way one should conceive life. The children very deftly conveyed the message that the life is a song. So everyone must sing and enjoy it.

The evening also saw an item "Vehra shagna da" in which the Punjabi marriage was enacted. It established the best description of Punjabi culture by the young students of pre-primary classes advising in their own innocent way.

On this occasion, Principal Sanjay Sardana presented the school's annual report and also announced the opening of third branch of Manav Mangal in Sector 64, Phase X, Mohali under the name of Manav Mangal Smart School.

The chief guest, Mr M.S. Narang, PCS, Additional Chief Administrator (GMADA), SAS Nagar, Mohali, gave away prizes to around 50 students who had shown excellence in academic as well as co-curricular activities.

Chandigarh, November 22
Prof Akhtar Mahmood, Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, has won the 2006 Indian Journal of Gastroenterology - J. Mitra Memorial Award for the best original article carried in the prestigious journal. He will be given a certificate and a cheque for Rs 20,000.

The selection was made by the Mumbai-based journal on the basis of the recommendations by a panel of four experts from around the country. The article that brought him the honour was titled “Susceptibility of lactase to luminal proteases in developing rat intestine”, which was carried in the journal’s July-August issue, according to a communication he received from the Editor, Mr Philip Abraham.