THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rocket was something different for Dilip K, a visually challenged Class VIII student from Kasargod, until he got a chance to touch its model during a visit to Kerala State Science and Technology Museum here on Wednesday. The visit was part of the ‘Eyes-Free Science Camp’, the first ever summer science camp for the visually challenged jointly organised by Chakshumati, a charitable trust working exclusively for the empowerment of visually challenged, Kanthari Institute of Social Entrepreneurship, Vellayani and Technopark-based ACIS at Vellayani.The visit to the Science and Technology Museum was arranged to give the students a new experience in science. “Now I know the shape of a rocket,” Dilip said excitedly. He said the show at Planetarium was equally interesting. “Usually blind students end up choosing humanities because science is a tough subject. But science and mathematics were interestingly presented in this camp,” Dilip, a junior chess champion, said. A Aswathy, a Class IX student of Kuzhalmannam C A HSS, said models demonstrating gravity were interesting. “Though I could not see, the demonstration at the Planetarium was exciting since I am interested in astronomy,” Aswathy said. She said the camp gave her enough opportunity to clear her doubts in science. “In addition to having an interest in science, I attended the camp to make acquaintance with students like me,” said Aswathy. The students were given information on computers, iPad etc.Technopark-based Schogini Systems gave classes on technology at the function. The camp is being held from May 20 to 26. Leading academics and experts are giving training to visually challenged students in maths, chemistry and physics using innovative teaching methods. In addition, the children are also taught yoga, assistance technology and other personality development topics to provide a holistic learning experience. The camp has over 50 blind and low vision teenage students from various parts of the state.Renowned academicians such as Sabriya Tendulkar, Anubhav Mitra, Harish Kotian, Prof V K Damodaran, Dr R V G Menon, Prof K Pappootty, N T Nair, Sreedharan Palliyara, Prof Parvathy Balachandran, Eby Joseph, Vineesh, Sivadasan Madathil and Ranjith R Nair took classes.Day six of the camp would be devoted to Technology and Innovation and the students would be assisted by the GOLD members of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Kerala Section. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, MD, Allianz inaugurated the camp on Sunday. Education Minister Adbu Rabb distributed the awards for top scorers among blinds in school and college examinations.
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