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 and confidence gained during this process of learning. Exterior view of the Gurugraha astronomy centre The Gurugraha Astronomy Centre brings the vast sky and universe to visiting students and teachers from rural areas. While astronomy may seem far removed from their lives, it provides a solid introduction to many mathematical and scientific concepts in an exciting manner. Moreover, learning about the universe helps us know more about the planet we live on and the story behind where we came from. Shaped like a dome, the Gurugraha Astronomy Centre houses a model of our solar system. The planets orbit the sun as they do in the solar system, and each of their specifications and traits are depicted. The unique thing about this model is that it has been constructed as part of the building structure, with the sun being a bright white light at the centre and the planets’ orbits constructed as rings around it, descending towards the floor. The planets themselves are made so as to be moving along their orbit, showing the distance and time between each planet. Visitors can also walk upstairs to take a closer look at the planets and their motions. To view a 360-degree video of the Astronomy Centre and its solar system model in motion, visit Agastya’s virtual tour Each planet also has a dedicated table that lists all its information — its days, how many moons it has, how many years it takes to complete a round around the sun, and other trivia surrounding it. There is also a planetarium on the domed top of the astronomy centre, invoking the universe’s wonders to awe and interest children. It is a surefire way to get children interested in the mysteries of the universe and learn fundamental maths and physics concepts along the way. Children looking up at the solar system model As the course outline for an astronomy course at Virginia University explains, “By studying the cosmos beyond our own planet, we can understand where we came from, where we are going, and how physics works under conditions which are impossible to recreate on Earth. In astronomy, the Universe is our laboratory!” Agastya’s Gurugraha Astronomy Centre is dedicated to replicating this lab on Earth and helping children physically experiment in it.

Agastya’s mission is to reinvent education and change the way children learn. We hope to create curiosity, invoke creativity and inspire confidence in the future citizens. But to influence students, we would first have to look at their teachers. Teachers are change agents in society and act as a force multiplier. One can impact thousands of students through teachers, the ones we can’t reach ourselves. Hence Agastya started the Acharya Initiative as a dedicated program in addition to other Agastya programs in 2013–14. Initially, it was designed as a very brief workshop that was properly started in 2015. The framework of this program aimed to introduce the constructivist approach to education. This was in accordance with the National Curriculum for Teacher Education, 2005. What does constructivism mean? Constructivism shifts the role of a teacher from a mere instructor imparting information to a guide that helps children build on their own knowledge. The teacher does not see the child as a passive vessel to fill in. but as an active constructor of knowledge. This was a radical shift in approach. It fits in with Agastya’s mission, as stated above. Many teachers already knew the theory of constructivism as part of their BeD (Bachelor of Education) curriculum but did not have the resources to apply it in practice. They were also not sufficiently exposed to the implementation of it. Thus the aim of the program shifted to executing constructivist methods in the classroom rather than merely educating the teachers about it. Currently, the Acharya Initiative is designed as a 4-day workshop. Teachers from now 11 states visit Agastya’s Campus Creativity Lab in Kuppam to attend this workshop. The sessions help teachers experience constructivism in practice and reflect on it. They also learn how to implement it in the classroom. Experience, Reflection, and Implementation are the three cornerstones of the Acharya Initiative experience. They are designed to be interactive and hands-on, involving the teachers to the maximum extent possible. However, the next challenge faced by teachers was procuring resources for the implementation of the constructive method. Constructivism is a resource-oriented approach, and these teachers are often from rural or government schools where it’s hard to get the needed materials. When Agastya received this feedback from teachers, we added another element to the Acharya Initiative. Called Make Your Own Lab (MYOL), the program is another 3–5 days workshop that can be either residential or anywhere all the teachers in the district can attend. MYOL is a purely practical workshop where teachers create the models and manipulatives needed with raw materials bought by Agastya. At the end of MYOL, the teachers have their individual kits with around 30–35 models that they can take back to their school. These kits help the teachers practice constructivist, experiential learning in their classrooms. The idea is that instead of demonstrating with a single model, teachers can provide children with their own models to make and observe, engaging them in the learning process more effectively. It increases interaction and knowledge retention. The students can hence construct knowledge. Moreover, this approach places more emphasis on the process rather than the end product. It thus instils the scientific method of inferring and analysing data (observation, hypothesis, experimentation and inference). Hence children learn how to critically approach and investigate any problems they encounter and have confidence in their knowledge of procuring the required information. It makes the rest of their learning more accessible. Around 3000 teachers from 11 states undergo the Acharya workshop every year at the Creativity Campus in Kuppam. The aim is to spread it to the maximum number of teachers and the maximum number of students through them. After all, as aptly put by Henry B Adams, “A teacher affects eternity; he [or she] can never tell where his influence stops.”

Written by Nethra Singhi , compiled by Gaurav Kumar Agastya’s Sarga Samvad is a series of creative, experiential and imaginative dialogues with innovators from different fields. This takes the form of programs, interviews, panel discussions and more. The Inspirational Indians series holds one-on-one discussions with experts, innovators, and leaders from diverse disciplines. Here are 5 genuinely inspirational pioneers sharing the life mantras they swear by! “ Remember what you don’t want to do, and you’ll be on the right path ” - Dr Manu Prakash, scientist and professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University. You can catch more of his insights below! “ Of course, as a leader, there is always merit in leading from the front. Even if I have a clear notion of how something should be done, I would much rather work with what my colleague wants to do, irrespective of whether my way is right ”- Dr Anil Kakodkar, Padma Vibhushan awardee and nuclear physicist. Click below to hear more from him! “ Learn, learn, learn! Keep learning. It doesn’t matter what you learn, but learn. ” - Prof. V S Rammurthy, Padma Bhushan awardee and nuclear physicist. Learn from his life story below! “ Aspirations are your possibilities. keep them high, for you as well as for our society, our beloved nation ” - Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee, scientist and innovator. Get more inspiration from his conversation below! “ Knowledge creation is not the domain or right of only certain genders or cultures. In the classroom, collect stories of contributions from different civilizations, diverse sets of people. Know that knowledge comes from everywhere. ” - Dr Sujatha Ramdorai, ICTP Ramanujan awardee and professor of mathematics. Learn about why she doesn’t believe in the pursuit of success below! We have some more mantras for you in, stay tuned. And, if you want to stay ahead of the curve, watch more Inspirational Indians motivate you over here !

Agastya’s MediaArts Program aims to enable every child with tools to tell the stories they want to. We provide the skill training and resources to equip children with storytelling skills through storyboarding, storybook making, flipbook making, animation, photography and videography. The result? Beautiful productions, some of which you can see below! Here are five films made by children from Agastya. A peek into the imagination of these tiny humans! The Dangers Of Mobile Phone Addiction: Want to know the effects of long-term mobile phone usage? The group of kids as part of the Dhwani Program are here to tell you. Watch below to learn more. Kuppam Culture: Explore through the lens of Kuppam children an essential part of local culture. See how they prepare the chariot wheel for a rath yatra in the village below. Coconut Leaf Hat: Have you ever worn a coconut leaf hat? It’s a cool, environmentally friendly accessory for summer. Children participating in the Dhwani program teach you how to make one for yourself in this demonstration film! Marching Ahead: Watch this wonderful animation by children as part of the MediaArts Lab! What’s it about? Capturing a line of ants walking in 2D. The Deep End: A cute animation of life in the sea, reminding you of Finding Nemo or Finding Dory for the younger generation. How can you not watch it after that description? You can catch more such films on Agastya’s YouTube channel !

The pandemic has catapulted the need for accessible digital education. Agastya, in response, created We-Learn and MyAgastya.education . MyAgastya.education is a website where children can learn from the comfort of home and activities for which materials are readily available. However, in India, there are more mobile devices with data plans than there are laptops. Hence, the We-Learn app. It is primarily developed to tap into today’s most accessible digital resources, the mobile phone and its data plan. This way, it can reach the maximum number of students, even those for whom the school is too far away. The We-Learn app makes the NCERT syllabus more accessible, fun and easy to learn. It is designed to encourage self-learning and requires little parental or teacher supervision. It aims to enable children to take charge of their learning journey. Accordingly, with material for classes four to ten, it supplements every level of education. Based on the Agastya philosophy of Aah! Aha! Ha-Ha! the material on the app aims to make every child curious, creative and confident. Keep in mind that little teacher supervision does not mean that teachers can’t use the app in their classrooms as an aid to the material. In fact, Gram Panchayats in some parts of Karnataka have successfully incorporated this and other Agastya digital learning resources into their curriculum. Despite being a digital learning platform, the syllabus and curriculum of We-Learn make space for hands-on learning. There are multiple activities that children can engage in, observe and experiment with. This is also based on Agastya’s philosophy to promote innovative hands-on learning and focus on children actually understanding the material rather than merely memorising it. So, how does one go about using this resource? It’s actually quite straightforward. Follow these five easy steps to make full use of the We-Learn app. Download the app on an android device. The app is currently only available on Playstore but will soon be available on Appstore as well. Select the language to learn in. Agastya firmly believes that education needs to be accessible in all parts of the world. Hence, starting with India, the modules are available in many vernacular languages apart from Hindi and English. These include Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Oriya, Marathi, and Gujarati. More modules are being developed in other languages. This will make it easier for children from all parts of the country to learn in the language they’re most comfortable in. Select a grade from class four to class ten to view the available subjects and modules for the particular standard. Click on the desired subject. The subjects currently available are Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Integrated Sciences, Mathematics, General Education, Healthcare and Covid19. Select a lesson, and voila! Start your or your child’s journey to explore, experiment, and experience! As you can see, the application is pretty easy to navigate. We are in the process of developing more learning modules for other subjects like English and Media education. They will soon be available on the app, making these subjects more accessible and fun to learn!

Lightning can strike twice in the same place! Here’s the science behind why. What is lightning? Lightning is essentially electricity moving from one place to another. It is simple chemistry. When storms occur, clouds develop a negative charge or have more electrons than protons. This is because water and ice molecules keep rubbing against each other. The negative charge wants to equalise itself to arrive at a neutral charge. The neutral ground helps it do so. Because when the number of electrons gets really high in the clouds, they are attracted to the positive charge in the ground. Hence, they make the jump in the form of lightning. Why it can strike in the same place twice There is an old saying that lightning can never strike in the same place twice, used as a metaphor for bad things only happening once to anybody. But scientifically speaking, lightning does occur at the same spot multiple times and can strike twice. Firstly, during a lightning strike, there are multiple bolts of electricity. So, there are already numerous lightning strokes in the same place at one event. This does not guarantee that another such event won’t reoccur. Research indicates that negative charges in the clouds are not dispensed in one go. They break from one main channel into needle-like structures. These structures can keep delivering electricity till they contain a negative charge. This means the same channel can be used to send more lightning to the ground. The probability of this cannot be calculated; it can be one day, a year, or a decade before the same place receives another event of lightning. For instance, the Empire State Building in the USA was hit by lightning around fifty times between 2015 and 2020. How to create lightning at home The chemistry behind lightning can be recreated safely at home. All one needs is a balloon. Rub the balloon against your hair. This creates a negative charge in the balloon, like in the clouds. Now rub the balloon against something metal. The spark created is lightning on a really small scale. You can even use sweaters to rub against the balloon. There are many more such ways of creating static electricity, which is the cause of lightning. You or your child can find more such interesting do-at-home experiments on Agastya’s self-learning website MyAgastya.education or our digital learning mobile app, We-Learn. These are Agastya initiatives that inculcate curiosity, creativity and confidence in children through simple explanations and experiments that support their school learning.

Dropping out of school is a widespread occurrence in rural and economically backward areas. And Agastya’s mission is to educate every child in India. So, how do we fill this gap? Through Operation Vasantha. Operation Vasantha (OV) is an afterschool program that works as a night learning centre in villages across the country. It benefits the community and its children. Dropouts and students both are welcome in this initiative. How does this work? At OV centres, children learn, play and experiment. Multiple learning activities are designed with the syllabus from NCERT books. There is a lot of emphasis on learning through play. This is the basis of the Agastya Way of Learning. To aid the process, children are provided with kits and other learning materials free of charge. Activities at OV Centres include singing, theatre, science experiments, art and craft projects, designing and building prototypes, language studies, environment studies, health guidance and more. Children are at the centre of this project. They are encouraged to learn, play, and be the children that they are. Through the program, many school dropouts are also reengaged. They and their families see the benefits of schooling and often reenroll. Even if they are not absorbed back into the system, they learn through other means and gain practical knowledge. The goal is to get all children back in school. This is often not the case in households where children contribute to the running. They work alongside their parents to earn and survive. OV centres run after school to also not interfere with this. Through the process, the volunteers and instructors of the program engage the parents as well. They try to show the long-term benefits of a proper school education. When the children start enjoying the activities, they become curious about schooling, also encouraging their parents to send them back. This is not a hundred per cent successful initiative, but it has helped a majority of school dropouts get back on track. Ultimately, all children that attend become curious, confident and creative. This is the goal of Agastya. OV centres also work in partnership with the communities they operate in, building a space for a more aware and conscious community. During the Covid19 lockdown, they became dispensers of medical aid and spread awareness about the importance of maintaining hygiene habits and social distancing. As of 2022, there are two hundred and fifty-six Operation Vasantha centres that reached more than seven thousand children in the last year alone. Running across the country, they aid in creating a literate public and an educated future.

E-learning has been around for quite some time, even before the pandemic. However, post-pandemic, living in the new normal, educational practitioners are now focused on blended learning. They don’t depend on one set of tools but have come up with approaches incorporating both learning styles to provide a comprehensive, well-rounded education. So, what is blended learning? The technical definitions of the term vary widely, but it is commonly understood as an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities with traditional classroom setups. It can also be called a hybrid learning model, phygital learning, or mixed modes of schooling. But why is blended learning being adopted in schools and institutions? There are multiple reasons, ranging from the philosophical to the practical benefits compared to conventional classrooms and e-learning. The philosophy of blended learning draws roots in the constructivist school. Both put children at the centre of their education and use the teacher as a facilitator and guide rather than a mere instructor. They believe that knowledge is gained through understanding and adding to the social meaning of concepts learnt. From a passive bowl waiting to be filled with knowledge, children create knowledge through hands-on experiences. Where blended learning starts to branch out is the technological input. It adds a whole new dimension to constructivist learning by providing tools from both physical and digital resources. In the initial stages of e-learning, the model of education was heavily praised for increasing access to more children around the world, providing more tools and resources, and providing a more personalised learning environment. However, drawbacks were soon discovered. Socialising is an inherent part of education that e-learning failed to deliver. Moreover, many children worldwide still don’t have access to the internet or the means to use laptops or mobile devices, cutting off a significant population of students from the benefits enjoyed. E-learning, while enabling a student to learn at their own pace, also doesn’t actively encourage physical experiences and experimentation. Thus, a hybrid approach is now being recognised as the way forward. It combines the best of both worlds, so to speak, providing both physical and digital resources to children. A hybrid approach focuses on hands-on learning using digital technologies. The modules provide multiple opportunities for exploration and experimentation, with the aid of teachers, both online and offline. This keeps children engaged with the material and nurtures curiosity, creativity and confidence. This approach thus lends itself to the Agastya way of learning naturally. We are firm believers in constructivist education and have experimented with digital learning in the lockdown. This has provided us with a solid foundation to create multiple blended learning tools that aid education and educators in the remotest corners of India. One such tool is We-Learn, an android application that teachers can use to explain modules in fun, simple ways. It is also loaded with activities children can perform with everyday materials, actively involving them in the learning process. We have also developed several phygital modules across different Agastya outreach activities, maximising access. While digital technologies may still be out of the hands of many Indian children, we have equipped our instructors with tablets to travel and spread these resources. Keeping in mind that India has the largest population of mobile phone users and mobile data, Agastya instructors conducted online lessons (through WhatsApp, Zoom etc.) and created sessions using android-based learning resources. We also developed kits and manuals couriered to children’s homes. The instructors act as online facilitators in these scenarios, guiding children on using these kits to build an understanding of the taught concepts. There are still many unanswered questions about how education should be delivered to keep up with the current world. But blended learning has become a staple guide to the answers.

Agastya International Foundation is a vast space for multiple initiatives that serve one singular purpose: get children interested in learning through hands-on, quality education. We currently have more than 15 programs that aid our mission. So, we thought, why not introduce you to some of them through video! Here are 6 Agastya Programs you can look at through short 2-minute videos. But first, here is a video to understand Agastya and delve deeper into our vision: Here’s another video outlining some of our main programs: 6 Agastya Program Introductions Ramanujan Math Park: Located in Agastya 172-acre campus in Kuppam Andhra Pradesh, the Ramanujan Math Park is an ode to the mathematical genius and a way to pass on his passion for math to younger children. Watch here to get a glimpse: Vision Works: Another component of the Kuppam Campus, Vision Works is the lab where Agastya’s models and tools come alive to provide an experiential, hands-on learning experience. Watch here to know more: MediaArts Program: The MediaArts program at Agastya aims to inculcate observation and creativity in children and enable them to narrate their stories. Here’s a glimpse into the beautiful productions our students have come up with: Operation Vasantha: A community learning centre, Operation Vasantha conducts evening classes for children with no or limited access to the formal education system and who have to work for a living. It aims to get them back into learning. Watch here to know more: i-Mobile: A unique program where the science curriculum is blended with IT (Computer skills), the i-Mobile program is a blended learning initiative that uses both physical and digital tools to provide a rounded education. It also aims to get children acquainted with modern technology like laptops that they may not have access to in their homes and schools. We-Learn: Another initiative that ties technology with hands-on learning, We-Learn is an android based learning app with modules ranging from science and math to general health and education. Look below to know how the app works: . . . We hope this gives you a deeper insight into why we do what we do and what exactly it is that we do. Which other programs of Agastya would you like an introduction to?

It’s World Youth Day on the 12th of August, and we thought you should know some of the most influential youth leaders in STEM for the occasion. The United Nations classifies people between the ages of 15 and 24 as a youth, which is the criteria used for this curation. Gitanjali Rao TIME magazine’s Kid of the Year, 2020, now 17-year-old Gitanjali Rao has multiple accomplishments to her credit. At 10, she developed a device called Tethys that can be used to detect lead content in water to help the Flint, Michigan residents. Recognised as America’s Top Scientist in 7th grade, the teen’s most recent innovation is Kindly, an app that can detect cyberbullying in the early stages. She has also invented a device called Epione that helps calculate prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering. The youngster has a long way to go and will continue to advance the world of STEM with her work! Olivia Hallisey A winner of the Google Science Fair in 2015 at 17 years and one of Time Magazine’s “Thirty Most Influential Teens of 2015”, Olivia Hallisey developed a low-cost Ebola test that works rapidly. The Ebola Assay Card (EAC) is an easy-to-use visual device that also does not need refrigeration, making it a user-friendly and inexpensive device that can be used worldwide without barriers. She has also developed the Lyme Assay Card (LAC), an early detection device for Lyme disease based on saliva. Her research continues to progress and is helping develop low-cost innovative solutions to identify medical problems. Anjali Sharma Indian-Australian climate activist Anjali Sharma wrote history with seven fellow 17-year-olds in 2021 when she took the then Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, for failing to consider the impacts of climate change and won! The class action by the group asked for disapproving expansion to the coalmine Vickery, near Gunnedah, in NSW, on the grounds that it was harmful to the youth and future generations. The Federal Court ruled, in a world first, that the Minister for the Environment was required to have a duty of care towards teenagers and children concerning climate change impacts, particularly bushfire and heatwave impacts. This set a precedent for following court cases. A finalist for the 2021 Climate Action Prize, Anjali’s work may not be directly related to STEM but is a shining example of advocating for environmental rights, one of the most essential STEM fields. Joaquin Cortacans The first Uruguayan to attend space camp at 15, the now 20-year-old Joaquin has dedicated his time to spreading the love of space to Uruguayan youth. His nonprofit, Jóvenes Bajo la Lupa, is spreading awareness about the importance of science education and is a space for students to explore STEM-related fields. In 2018, Joaquin was named one of The Mars Generation’s 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space Award recipients! His work goes to show how little resources and inclination developing countries have for pursuing advanced sciences when they are the ones that can bring the most innovation to the field and benefit from it. Xóchitl Guadalupe Cruz López We know we said we’re following the ages of 15–24, but this 12-year-old’s project is definitely worth a mention on the list of young STEM leaders on the path to changing the world! Xóchitl grew up in a low-income area of Mexico where residents did not have access to hot water and, as a result, often fell ill with respiratory diseases and were forced to cut down trees for firewood. Thus at the tender age of 8, she developed the project Hot Water, a solar-powered water heater made from basic, recycled objects that costs only about $30 to assemble. Her innovation is revolutionary for countries that struggle with deforestation and provides a sustainable, low-cost alternative for people who can not afford hot water. These are just a few of the many youths changing the world for the better day by day with their innovations and advocacy. We hope to inspire and enable many more such children at Agastya by spreading curiosity, creativity and confidence in Indian school children and encouraging their love for STEM. Let’s invest in our youth this World Youth Day and invest in a sound future for generations to come.

India celebrates its 75th year of independence on the 15th of August, 2022. On such a momentous occasion, we thought it was befitting to shine the spotlight on some STEM visionaries of the country and how their inventions or research changed not just one nation but the whole world. This list also focuses on the 20th and 21st centuries. Many already know the greats of the previous eras: Ramanujan, CV Raman, Homi Bhabha, Satyendranath and Jagdish Chandra Bose, and of course, APJ Abdul Kalam from this one. Uddhab Bharali Born in Assam in 1962, Uddhab Bharali has been inventing since the 1980s, with currently over 160 innovations to his name. The Padma Shree Awardee and winner of the President’s Grassroots Innovation award is known for low-cost, eco-friendly tools such as the pomegranate deseeder (which was also selected in online voting for the NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal). His other inventions include low-cost peeler machines for other vegetables, a bamboo processing machine, and devices that help disabled people eat and write. Aparajita Datta Wildlife ecologist Aparajita Datta is best know for her work on saving the hornbills of Arunachal Pradesh from poachers. The Whitley awardee also discovered the presence of leaf dear and black barking deer in India and the Arunachal Macaque, a new species of monkeys. Datta’s team has always included local tribes and communities in her work, and she has also helped the Lisu people of Arunachal Pradesh find alternative sources of income by increasing nature tourism in the area and marketing their handicrafts. Modadugu Vijay Gupta Pioneer of the Blue Revolution of southeast Asia, Modadugu Vijay Gupta was selected for the Sunhak Peace Prize in 2015 for helping create an aqauculture system that empowered rural populations in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Prior to this he has also been awarded the World Food Prize in 2005 for increasing nutrition in the diet of impoverished families by disseminating low-cost fish farming techniques and adding to protein and mineral content in their food, along with helping increasing their income. Gagandeep Kang Microbiologist and virologist Gagandeep Kang is a leading researcher on viral infections in children, and the testing of rotaviral vaccines. For her lifelong work in the field of viral diseases, their effect on children, and vaccine testing, Kang was awarded the Infosys Prize in 2017. In 2019, she became the first Indian woman to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. You can learn more about the esteemed professor from herself over here , in our interview with her as part of the Inspirational Indians Series. E.A. Siddiq Padma Shree Awardee E.A Siddiq is an agricultural scientist whose research focus has been on genetics and plant breeding, culminating in the development of more than 10 high-yielding rice varieties. He has assisted in creating breeds such as dwarf basmati, hybrid rice, and quick maturing varieties such as Pusa 2–21, Pusa 33, Pusa 4 and Pusa 834. Siddiq has collaborated with the World Bank/FAO as consultant and advisor and has pioneered programs in Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. He has also helped in the establishment of rice research institutes in Vietnam and Bangladesh. Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay The first woman director of the Indian Statistical Institute, and recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay is a computer scientist specializing in computational biology. She is credited for her work in discovering a genetic marker for breast cancer, the role of white matter in Alzheimer’s disease, and the links between cancer and HIV. The Infosys Prize awardee currently serves on the Prime Ministers’ Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council, and was conferred with the Padma Shree in 2022. Asima Chatterjee The organic chemist was the first woman to get a doctorate in science from an Indian university and the first woman recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have substantially contributed to scientific, technological and mathematical advancement around the world. Her most notable work includes research on vinca alkaloids, the development of anti-epileptic drugs, and development of anti-malarial drugs. She also did considerable research on medicinal plants in the Indian subcontinent and their use.

An account of those educating the future The Acharya Initiative Teacher Training Program (TTP) is a part of Agastya’s effort to enable teachers to conduct lessons fruitfully and with all the required resources. With India celebrating Teachers’ Day on 5th September, the TTP team at Agastya wanted to share their experience with the government school teachers they interact with. They wanted to express gratitude to the unknown heroes of the country silently building our future. Here’s what they have to say. . . . Ask an ordinary everyday person in our country about the government school teachers and their teaching methods, and their first reaction will probably be ‘miserable’ or ‘unsatisfied’. But the truth is not so! Being ordinary men, we may have our dispositions on the public school system and fail to see the exemplary efforts of these extraordinary teachers. When we started conducting Teacher Training Programs for these teachers, we saw their efforts and dedication to their job. If you saw their core beliefs and educational practices, your disposition would change too. All they needed was more resources and some guidance towards creating an active classroom. This is where Agastya’s Acharya Initiative comes in. To provide holistic education to children, Agastya started training teachers using the ‘constructivist approach’ in a 4-days workshop. We also equipped teachers with tools by developing low-cost models in a 4-day long ‘Make Your Own Lab’ (MYOL) workshop. During these programs, we observed that many teachers performed extraordinarily to make the learning process more effective. It is important to note that these teachers try their best to make up for any inadequacies in their subject knowledge through hard work. From painstakingly preparing lesson plans and brainstorming to engage children in their classroom to creating activities that involve every single child, facilitating through various practices, conducting experiments, and incorporating arts and role play in their pedagogy, they left no stone unturned to make learning fun. In many schools, teachers even contributed money out of their own pockets for stationery, books, setting up an activity room, etc. A teacher dressed up as a butterfly to teach pollination Can you imagine — a Biology teacher bringing a real heart and lungs of a goat to teach biology to Grade 8 students and dissecting it?; A maths teacher teaches number systems by playing the flute and harmonium?; A science teacher teaches pollination by dressing up, mono acting as a butterfly? Each of these is happening in the public schools around us; Actually, a lot more than this! Without them, the most extensive education system in the world would not function at all. We are glad to play our part in helping these superstars create the superstars of tomorrow. Having reached lakhs of teachers, Agastya hopes to influence even more through the Acharya Initiative. A teacher using music to teach his lessons Meanwhile, on this occasion, Agastya shares its gratitude to all these unknown extraordinary teachers. We wish them a very HAPPY TEACHERS DAY!!