BISWANATH CHARIALI: Professor Kshirdhar Baruah, a recipient of the National Award for Popularization of Science, had set up ‘Akash’ in 2001. The organisation, which was born as a children’s science programme, became a ‘Centre for Science and Environment Education’ in 2012. The institute has been regularly teaching science, mathematics and astronomy for children and is busy removing superstitions through the popularization of science and technology among the public.
The organisation has published five popular science books besides publishing a monthly paper called ‘Akash Vigyan Barta’. It is imparting free practical teaching of science and mathematics to students of government and non-government educational institutions of Assam through the ‘Pratsahan Project’. Various programmes have also been carried out regularly on the state level.
Recently, Akash Science and Environment Education Centre presented the ‘Vigyan Sausthava’ award to Dr Akhil Kumar Deka and the ‘Environment Sausthav’ award to Dr Prabin Kumar Saikia, two prominent science activists of the state, for their lifelong pursuit in popularizing science. Ripunjoy Bordoloi as secretary and Preeti Barua and Mamud Ahmed as assistant secretaries have been running the organisation.
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