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Progress Report

Since it was established as a Charitable Trust in India and USA, Agastya has made strong progress towards its goals.  Milestones achieved include the following:

August 2008
Science fair for thousands of children conducted at Hubli Glass House MOU signed with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Karnataka to launch Science Center in Chickballapur Campus road development work commenced; second construction contractor appointed for new residential block Record number of children exposed to the Agastya Creativity lab and Mobile Lab programs gain college admission Work commenced on a book on “Ten years of Agastya” Delegation from Deshpande Foundation, Boston visits the Hubli Science Center and a village science fair Deshpande Fellow Kate Davies, joins Agastya’s Hubli Science Center Program commenced to hire and train senior school dropouts as teachers Summer project sponsored by Agilent Technologies titled “ “ completed with 8 students from Vellore Institute of Technology Agastya Chairman delivers the Veda Thakurdas Memorial Lecture on Creativity and Leadership at Miranda House College, Delhi Meeting arranged by Deshpande Foundation with the Director, Museum of Science, Boston results in potential new areas of collaboration Meeting at Cambridge University, England results in a plan to make a film on the science behind toys National Knowledge Commission visits Agastya and recommends replication of Agastya mobile lab and science center model to the Prime Minister of India Square Wheel Bike developed by Prof Ramaswamy and Shivkumar is featured in newspapers 8 new models added to Jhunjhunwala Discovery Center Environment sensitization fair for 130 farmers, government departments and suppliers of organic pesticides launched at Kunigal Science Center Mobile Lab fleet expands to 30 Number of Outreach Science Centers expands to 10 Murray Culshaw Consulting releases Evaluation Reports on Agastya’s Mobile Lab Programs in Koppal, Karnataka and Chittoor, A.P. Agastya participates as a Resource Person in Ministry of Human Resources Workshop on Teacher Pedagogy in New Delhi Mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan’s bust installed on campus Dr. David Johns, ex- Vice Chancellor, Bradford University, UK visits Agastya Agastya participates in the Deshpande Foundation’s Development Dialogue New Orrerey (solar system) model designed by Prof. Ramaswamy and Shivkumar is featured in Times of India; model presented at Vidya Shilp School, Bangalore New Bangalore office opened
2007
Young Instructor Leader program launched at Agastya Creativity Lab campus Agastya is invited to join the Working Group on Attracting talented Children to math and Science of the Prime Minister’s National Knowledge Commission Case study on Agastya by Peter Patch of The Summit Group, New York Young Instructor program launched at Agastya campus Mobile Lab fleet expands to 27 The first Mobile Art Lab launched near campus Training offered at campus for teachers from Suyam, Tamil Nadu Children of Grade 7, Mallya Aditi International School visit Agastya campus for overnight educational experience 20 new models added to Jhunjhunwala Center Art studio and a dedicated Chemistry lab launched on campus (Oberoi Center) International film crew visits Kunigal center to film Agastya Mobile Eco Lab Ecology and environment - work commenced on Bala Vana (Garden of Prodigies) Campus Model Making Workshop launched Articles on Agastya appear in the UK journals Inflections and Knowledge, Economy & Education Science Center and Mobile Lab program launched in Hubli/Dharwad and other North Karnataka rural districts. Ten year strategic plan MOU signed with R. Jhunjhunwala Foundation Channel News Asia features Agastya in program titled Changemakers MOU signed with SSA, Government of Karnataka to expand outreach science centers and mobile lab programs in 6 North Karnataka Districts Guest house on campus completed R. Jhunjhunwala and colleagues from Mumbai; Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Zee TV, and the Global Fund for Children visit Agastya campus Kunigal Science Center and Mobile Lab program (including first Mobile Eco Lab launched)

2006

• The President of India, Dr. APJ Kalam visits the Agastya Mobile Lab in Bangalore
  
• Article on Agastya appears in the UN Chronicle
  
• Agastya – REACH Koppal Science Center and Mobile Lab program launched
  
• Mobile Lab Night Community visits launched
  
• Ecology and environment – Agastya Vana completed on campus
  
• Ecology and environment – launched Ayurveda Hill on campus
  
• Large plane model installed as outdoor exhibit on campus
  
• Gopi Warrier, Chairman, Ayurvedic Group, London, visits Agastya campus.
  
• Mobile Lab program project launched for tribal children in A.P.

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