FIRST STC(Science and Technology Competition) held AT BISE ABBOTTABAD HALL ON 20th ,21st OCTUBER 2008

                                 

Science and Technology Model Competitions

 

Purpose:

 

To provide opportunity to children (students of class 9 th to 12 th) to test their creativity, knowledge & scientific genius & solve real world problems in the process.

 

Concept:

 

  • Infuse the spirit of discovery in school children to push the limits of scientific knowledge and showcase their talent for the rest of the world
  • Increase their interest in S&T.
  • To culture scientific thinking in the society and make the society science minded.
  • Popularization of S&T at all levels especially at grass root level.

 

By designing and implementing the activity we believe:

 

  • Critical thinking and problem solving skills are vital in addressing the complex and ethical issues of our time.
  • Students learn best in community where academic disciplines are integrated, fostering an appreciation of how they interact and form a whole.
  • Global interdependence compels us to understand the languages, systems and diverse cultures of people throughout the world.
  • Methods of science provide discipline to our search for structure in the world
  • Research stems from a combination of fundamental knowledge individual creativity and curiosity
  • Effective communication is often the only difference between a good idea and a successful initiative
  • Collaborative learning, athletics and extracurricular activities develop leadership and interpersonal skills
  • Responsibility and integrity are core principles in the pursuit of excellence
  • Targeted oriented learning is the surest way of understanding science and technology
  • Learning never ends

 

Justification:

 

  • Fertile young brains provide the best available opportunities for generating future scientists
  • School level science model competition is the best tool to stimulate the process of attaining self sufficiency in S&T
  • Sow the seeds of tomorrow's scientist to reduce the gap between the demand and supply of professional scientists
  • Inspire the students to take up their careers in science and technology
  • To generate students' interest and increase public understanding of the S&T
  • People want intellectual relief and relaxation

 

Output:

 

The project would result in identifying:

 

  • A batch of talented students identified as young scientists
  • Students representing Pakistan at the international level enhancing the image and reputation of Pakistan as a developing and enlightened society

 

The impact:

 

The impact of the project at this juncture is difficult to asses however some of the mechanisms identified under the project are:

 

  • The project would create and maintain a database of participants to track their careers particularly of the winners to asses the percentage of the participants are successful in adopting their careers in S&T.
  • Through random survey of the parents and the teachers of the participants particularly of the winners would be carried six months of the competition to assess any attitudinal change in the behavior of the students
  • Students would learn how to carry out real world research which is least stimulating in the current system of education

 

1 st Science & Technology Model Competition (Hazara region):

 

This was the first of the four regional competitions. For the competition five districts orientation workshops were organized in April 2008, in which all the schools and colleges of the Hazara division were invited to participate. 695 students and 163 teachers participated in the orientation. 832 number of copies of standard research methodologies were distributed among the students in the orientation and 1714 number of copies were sent to 857 schools who could not attend the orientations for some reasons. The message was taken very well by organizations/academia engaged in research and responded by nominating their faculty etc as mentors for students who needed guidance, and as members of the Scientific Review Committee to select the winners in accordance with the laid down procedures. Moreover the relevant organizations generously offered their facilities for carry out the research work by students, prominently among those were. In all 52 standard projects were exhibited for competition and 118 number of students participated. The competition and the models were visited by students from local schools & colleges. Besides students from non participating schools a number of dignitaries graced the occasion especially the award ceremony. The striking feature of the event was the level of understanding of the participating students. The organizations that contributed to the success of the event initiated establishing strong linkage and offered to work with DoST in its future endeavors.

 

 

It is worth mentioning that Intel Education Pakistan is the partner to the DoST S&T competition for schools. At the national level Federal ministry for education supports the Intel science Olympiad. Taking inspiration from the efforts made by the DoST they have prepared to support the activity both technically and financially and have extending their support to all the four provinces. It is worth noting that NWFP province is the only province in which the competition has been extended to all the districts and even FATA in contrast to a few districts and a couple of divisions in the other provinces