CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, celebrated “One Day as a Scientist” week, which attracted the participation of 304 students, comprising 292 participants through online registration and 12 via offline channels, showcasing a diverse range of academic backgrounds.
Each day commenced with an overview of the Scientific Exposition Centre and Herbarium Gallery, providing students with insights into the institute’s historical contributions to botanical research and biodiversity. A standout moment on the second day featured motivating talks by Dr Ajit Kumar Shasnay, Director of CSIR-NBRI, and Shri Akhilesh Shukla, Sah-Prant Pramukh. They encouraged students to remain inquisitive and to explore the advancements in science.
The participants were divided into smaller groups, rotating through six major scientific divisions and specialised laboratories within CSIR-NBRI. Additional interactive modules featured Fragrance Research, Scientific Exposition, and Dry Flower Technology. Students had the opportunity to engage with several scientists and research scholars from the laboratory to gain valuable insights into advanced research projects presently going on and the achievements of the past.
The programme included hands-on practical experiments, ranging from DNA isolation and electrophoresis to microbial staining, pharmacological assays, chlorophyll assessment, air quality monitoring, herbarium preparation, fungal and bacterial staining, plant sample collection and identification, essential oil extraction, and several others. These activities provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific inquiry process, from hypothesis formulation to experimentation and data analysis.
A notable part of the ODAS programme was the introduction of interactive learning kits, including the Brain Cap and Leaf Cube, purchased from the Indrani Balan Science Activity Centre at IISER Pune. These kits significantly enhanced the learning experience and received positive feedback from participants for our “Lab@Bench” concept of learning. Students also engaged in DIY experiments from dry flowers for making value-added products, popular science discussions on cinema and science history, and entertaining science-related activities such as foldscope, designed to make learning both effective and enjoyable. The combination of structured academic exposure and creative engagement ensured that every participant departed with a valuable and memorable learning experience.
The successful implementation of ODAS at CSIR-NBRI was made possible by a committed team of the institute.
