Virtual Centre on Science Creativity and Learning (http://www.hp.gov.in/balvigyan)
The State Council for Science, Technology & Environment Himachal Pradesh, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) Mohali and Department of Education H.P, plans to build a Centre for Science Learning and Creativity at Shogi, near Shimla
The centre will provide an opportunity to learn science, bring hands-on science education to schools in Himachal Pradesh and will stimulate and transform the creative thought processes of rural science students and teachers.
The proposed centre will encompass several labs such as labs for physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, earth sciences, environment and astronomy. The building will also house a Discovery Centre, an electronics & computer lab, a creative teaching centre, library, a workshop for model making, an auditorium, a science museum, class rooms, lecture theatres and a dome theatre for mini planetarium. The outside landscaping of the centre should include space for a Biodiversity Park involving region specific biodiversity and traditional/indigenous technology. Apart from the Science Labs, the main building will also include a cafeteria, dormitory and dining hall for students and accommodation for visiting scientists and teachers.
Keeping the above requirements in mind, the building for the Science Centre at Shogi should be designed to attract the visitors to the world of science. The building design should therefore incorporate elements such as natural integration with the environment, using solar and wind energy for ventilation, power and natural lighting. The design of the space should be such as to deeply engage visitors in a complex manner so that they are drawn to the centre to get answers, evoke questions and make connections with the self and the physical world.
The centre in its 0.92 hectare campus will have various types of infrastructures and buildings specially designed for its activities and labs. At a given time, the centre should have the capacity to hold 200 participants engaged in different activities. Every lab should be able to accommodate 25-30 students each. The dome theatre and the lecture hall should be able to accommodate 100 people each and museum should be able to have about 50 people visiting at a given time. The labs of each subject i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and environmental science will also have a demonstration space with a capacity to have 25 students at a time. There will be an outdoor lab for environmental monitoring, solar energy experiments and wind experiments. Web Learning Portals/E-material generation lab with capacity to have 25 computers and a server room. Library with a capacity of about 5000 books and e-material, with seating and study corners for about 50 people.
In addition to the above science infrastructure, the centre should have a student dormitory to accommodate 100 students, a guesthouse for 10-15 resource persons and visiting scientists, appropriate housing for the caretaker, offices for the co-ordinators, administrative staff, a student dining hall and a visitors cafeteria area.