As a part of Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR), CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, has adopted 30 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) schools in Jammu and Kashmir, which NITI Aayog supports. An Atal Tinkering Lab provides activity-based learning in the identified schools across the country, where young minds can give shape to their ideas for societal problems. It also fosters entrepreneurship and innovation, enabling more than 3 million students from grades VI to XII to acquire a problem-solving, tinkering and innovative mindset.

Pertinently, under the CSIR-Atal Incubation Mission (AIM) initiative, NITI Aayog’s ATL and CSIR Jigyasa are working on organising science workshops, interaction with scientists, outreach programmes and many other activities. In line with this, CSIR-IIIM has organised a three-day science workshop for 15 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) schools in the Jammu region. Around 60 students from various schools in the Jammu region, like Jammu, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Hiranagar, Miran Sahib, Dadwara, and Reasi, have registered for this workshop.

The three-day workshop was specifically designed with exciting biology and chemistry experiments related to the coursework and will provide hands-on experience working in various institute laboratories. Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, inaugurated this workshop.

In his presidential address, Dr Zabeer Ahmed referred to PM Shri Narendra Modi’s call for “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” and emphasised that academic activities must be aligned with the practical. He urged that the young minds, who are the future of the Nation, must come forward and adopt science as their career and contribute to the nation’s journey towards “Viksit Bharat” @2047. Dr Ahmed further said that it is indeed a matter of privilege and responsibility to host students of ATL schools and will extend them full support in the field of science and technology.

Dr Asha Chaubey, Sr Principal Scientist & HoD FMB Division, Nodal scientist Jigyasa programme, welcomed the students and their faculty members and briefed them about the activities planned during the workshop and encouraged the students to actively participate in such activities to be carried out during the workshop.

The event was attended by Heads of the Division, scientists, research scholars, students and others. The formal vote of thanks was presented by Dr Qazi Naveed Ahmad, HoD, Natural Products and Medicinal Division, while Ms Vidushi Abrol conducted proceedings of the event.