Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh has announced DST-INSPIRE internship program for 11^th class school students from March 23 to 27. A group of 300 students will participate in the fully sponsored 1st DST INSPIRE Internship Camp at University Auditorium at the PU Campus.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India has initiated various schemes under INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) program to attract and retain large number of students in basic science and to promote research and innovation in engineering and medicine.

PU Spokesman informed that the Principals from tri-city government and private schools have been requested to recommend ten best students from their respective school (top ten scorers based on their class X examination marks). The students can also check the details of the program and download the registration form from PU website (www.puchd.ac.in). The forms and names are to be forwarded through their Principals to Program Co-ordinator Dr. Anurag Kuhad at University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) on or before February 28, 2015.

List of selected candidates would be displayed on March 5 and final Program would be announced on March 15, 2015, informed Program Co-ordinator Dr. Anurag Kuhad.

There will be two interactive lectures/sessions daily in the morning session and afternoon sessions, which will be devoted to practical demonstrations and hands-on experimentations. All the participating students will be provided travel expenses, meals and study materials for all five days of the camp. There is no registration fee.

Science Exhibition on the topic of ‘Innovative Scientific Ideas’ would be conducted. The Principals have also been invited to send their applications for displaying innovative scientific ideas during the Inspire camp as an exhibition of their scientific competency. Out of all exhibited ideas, three best innovative scientific ideas will be awarded with 1^st Prize of Rs. 10,000, 2^nd Prize with Rs. 5000 and 3^rd Prize with Rs 3000.

Thought Provoking Lectures, Igniting young minds about science profession, Open discussion with renowned scientists, Hands-on experimentation, Mathematics Olympiad and Science Exhibition would be the highlights of the program.

Nobel Laureates, International Scientists, Bhatnagar Awardees, Academy Fellows and Eminent Scientists from National as well as International Institutes like NASA, NIH, ISRO, IISc, IITs, IISERs, NIPERs, CSIR, ICMR, DST, DBT, central/state universities, research centers, TIFR, BARC, NCL, JNCASR, NBRC, NCBS etc. in the science streams (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Life Sciences and Earth Sciences) would be invited to motivate young generation with their scientific experiences. They would provide thought provoking lectures, open discussions and demonstrations, encourage group activities, facilitated self-learning, close interactions, and motivation towards independent thoughts and inquiry-based questions.

The posters have been dispatched to all the schools for the display on their notice boards.

For more details, program Co-ordinator Dr. Anurag Kuhad can be contacted at his mobile number- 9915173064.