Written by Nethra Singhi
The Agastya’s Campus Creativity Lab at Kuppam is designed to provide children with the best learning environment and equipment. It strives to truly invoke children’s curiosity and enable them to learn by themselves instead of hand-feeding information that students learn by rote for the sole purpose of school.
This series of articles aims to provide a glimpse of the different labs and spaces on the campus and how they aid the process of “Aah! Aha! Ha-Ha!,” the Agastya Way of Learning. What does this stand for? The Aah indicates the curiosity one has about phenomena around them. The Aha is for when one conducts experiments and arrives at an explanation for their curiosity. The Ha-Ha stands for the joy gained during this process of learning.
The Bio-Discovery Centre at the Kuppam Campus enables children to learn about all things biology, from human DNA and bones and senses to animal and plant biology, through a process of playing and experimenting.
Its structure is inspired by how termites use limited resources to create ventilated mounds. Two of the Bio-Discovery Centre’s units showcase biomagnetic architecture. The buildings use environmental, renewable energy for power instead of air conditioning systems.
The centre consists of 5 structures: the DNA Dome, Mechanics of Movement, the Sensorium, and the biology lab with the AV lab, neurobiology lab and plant evolution garden.
DNA Dome
Codesigned by a post-doctoral researcher and a playground designer, the DNA Dome is a fully accessible thematic playground that simulates an animal cell. Here, children understand processes such as information transfer, transport and energy production in the cell etc., through a series of games incorporated in our teaching modules. They learn about the function of DNA, its structure, how it is hereditary, and the process of extraction of DNA using vegetables.
Mechanics of Movement
Focused on showcasing the wonders of human movement, this space houses interactive learning models made in-house that allow children to explore how the body moves. They can see how bones, muscles and joints in coordination with tendons and ligaments move when performing different actions. These models include: pedalling a cycle, arm movement, kicking a ball, and neck movement. Animations and videos take them deeper into the human body to observe how the action happens.
Sensorium
Large interactive models of the tongue, eyes, nose, ears and skin located in the Sensorium fascinate children and make them curious about how our five senses work. They learn about each sense, how it works and how it helps us perceive the world around us. The larger than life experience stays in their memories.
Biology Lab
The biology lab is filled with specimens and illustrations of flora and fauna of India like amphibians, reptiles, birds and insects. It helps children explore different living things and how they function, including plants in the plant evolution garden, where they are sowed and observed during various stages of growth.
Models of human organs can also be found here, explaining different functions and processes. A neurobiology component also describes reflex action, an involuntary, unplanned sequence of action and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus.
With these structures, Agastya hopes to cultivate children’s interest in biology and help them learn essential functions in an interactive, fun manner. Which design would you like to know more about next?
