VIPNETRegistered with the Registrar of Newspapers NEWS of India: R.N. DELENG/2002/8668 A monthly newsletter of Vigyan Prasar Network of Science Clubs - VIPNET NOVEMBER 2013 VOL. 11 NO. 11 PRICE: j 2.00 Hundred Years of the Atom A Campaign centred around the centenary of the discovery of the atomic structure The discoveries of the X-rays, radioactivity, the electron, quantum theory, and relativity during the golden decade 1895-1905 brought about a total revolution in the way we Inside perceive nature; and ushered in the era of Modern Science. Discoveries made during this period gave fo'ks"k ys[k rise to a spate of developments in physical and life sciences that has made the world we live in today. The discovery of the electron in 1897 prompted scientists to channelise their efforts to understand Hundred Years of the the structure of the matter. J. J. Thomson, the Atom discoverer of the electron, proposed the plum- pudding model of the atom. However, the discovery Structure of Atom : Source : Vinod Raina: Architect of of the atomic nucleus by Ernest Rutherford in 1911 simple.wikipedia.org a new education established a dense core (nucleus) at the centre with positive charge and system electrons with negative charge moving around it at large distances like planets around the Sun. This model had fundamental flaws as it did not confirm to the Fun In Maths established laws of physics. Niels Bohr resolved this problem by introducing the concept of stationary orbits, or the orbits in which the electrons orbited Dr Narendra Dabholkar: without radiating away energy. This explained the experimental data for the A fighter against hydrogen atom well and established the structure of the atom as proposed by obscurantism in India him. Later, contributions of Wolfgang Pauli with his Exclusion principle put the Bohr's theory of the atomic structure on a firm footing. This breakthrough Club Speak could explain aspects like atomic levels, spectra of various elements, electronic configurations in various atoms and the periodic table, chemical reactions, and as a result helped unravel phenomena in life sciences as well. The structure of DNA could be established only through a thorough understanding of atomic and molecular properties. Development of quantum mechanics and its applications related to atomic phenomena in 1930s opened up new vistas and contributed to technologies that have become a part of our daily life. It would not have been possible to develop transistors, lasers, television, atomic reactors, computers, genetically modified crops, MRI, or new X-Ray Tube : drugs without a proper understanding of Source : www.arepansa.gov.au atoms of various elements and their physical / chemical properties. It may be realized that in any natural phenomenon, or in any laboratory application, it is disciplines like physics, chemistry and biology that come into play in an integrated “The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking" ( Albert Einstein) vUrjjk"Vªh; ty lg;ksx o"kZ 2013 manner, and it is the atom and its to various atomic phenomena. These structure that are central to it. MRPs would train more Resource Hundred years of the atom have seen persons in their own states. a sea change in the world we live in, d) Bring out activity packages/kits/ the way we perceive the nature, and articles/ booklets in Hindi/ English at the consequent emergence of new the school level explaining various technologies that have completely atomic phenomena / applications transformed the world. giving historical and scientific details You may be aware that in the to be used as resource materials; and past, NCSTC and Vigyan Prasar have for distribution in schools, science jointly led countrywide campaigns on clubs and to interested individuals. various occasions to take science to e) Develop Power Point (PPT) the people. Some of the major presentations on basic information on campaigns included the activities built J.J. Thomson, Image Source development of atomic theory and its around the Total Solar Eclipses of :wwwwikipedia.org applications in physical and life (1995, 1999, 2009), Venus Transit (2004, 2012), sciences; and development of related technologies. World Year of Physics (2005), International Year f) Organise popular lectures / demonstrations on of Astronomy (2009), International Year of Planet atomic phenomena at schools / colleges in physical Earth 2008", International Year of Biodiversity 2010 and life sciences for the general public. etc. The year 2013 marks the centennial of the discovery of the atom and presents us with yet g) Produce and air radio programmes related to another great opportunity to take science to the the theme Hundred Years of the Atom. people. It also presents an opportunity to develop a h) Organise awareness campaigns in schools / variety of software on scientific concepts, their colleges; and especially in rural areas to encourage applications to various fields, and the technologies them to celebrate the Hundred years of the Atom. that came into being based on those concepts over i) Develop a network of schools/institutions/ the last hundred years. organisations to Now VP in promote / disseminate collaboration with scientific information NCSTC is undertaking related to the this initiative in a conceptual development campaign mode titled and our understanding "Hundred Years of the of the atomic structure Atom". The Campaign and phenomena, along will be centred around with advances in the centenary of the related technologies. discovery of the atomic At present our structure. ". The main country has a robust objectives of the infrastructure in the programme are :- Wolfgang Pauli, Image Source : Niels Bohr- Image Source : form of VIPNET Clubs www.arpansa.gov.au a) Communicate to kab.wikipedia.org (about 12,000), the general public about the evolving perception of community science centres (in many States) and natural phenomena since the discovery of the atomic S&T based agencies (both Government and Non- structure in 1913; and the progress in science and government). Many of the these are well equipped the advances in technology that have taken place to take up such programmes in terms of infrastructure ever since. and trained scientific manpower. Hundred Years of b) Popularise science and technology (S&T) in the Atom would be a concerted programme where general through activities related to various these science clubs / centres and S&T agencies phenomena centred on the atoms. would be involved in the same activity for about a year, along with Government and non-Government c) Organise 6 zonal training programmes (North, organisations, thereby ensuring a much bigger impact East, South, West, Central and North-East) to train all over the country. Master Resource Persons (MRPs) say, 50-60 in each zone- to carry out intensive activities related It is stated that there is a dearth of appropriate VIPNET NEWS2 NOVEMBER 2013 / Vol. 11 / No.11 International Year of Water Cooperation 2013 resource material produced elements has already been indigenously on scientific work out. So, be a part of topics at popular level in Campaign "Hundred Year of different languages. This Atom" by identifying the programme would be an role you can play. Time to unique opportunity to time details about the MRPs develop thematic material. training programme, Distribution of this software software development and / material to students / State level workshop will be teachers of schools and given in the VIPNET News colleges; and to general DNA- Image Source :wwwhobelweekdialogue.org and Website of Vigyan public would go a long way Prasar. Your views and in triggering an interest in science suggestions are welcome. among them. In particular, distributing the activity kits on Hundred Years of Source:- the Atom and other resource material Concept note: Hundred Years of the Atom , to the 12,000 VIPNET clubs of VP A major Initiative for S&T Popularisation would help fulfill this objective in rural centred around the centenary of the discovery areas in particular, as the experience of the atomic structure: developed by and B K Tyagi (Scientist 'E', Vigyan Prasar) and in the past has shown. Ujjwala Tirkey (Scientist 'E', NCSTC (DST), The programme would be spread A Joint Initiative of National Council for over 14 months starting from January Science and Technology Communication & 2014, next year. The Action Plan/ Vigyan Prasar. Ernest Rutherford- Image Source : Phase-wise distribution of worked www.arpansa.gov.au VIPNET NEWS 3 NOVEMBER 2013 / Vol. 11 / No. 11 vUrjjk"Vªh; ty lg;ksx o"kZ 2013 Dr Narendra Dabholkar A FIGHTER AGAINST OBSCURANTISM IN INDIA In the span of the last two months, India lost two stalwarts, Dr. Dhabholkar & Dr. Vinod Raina, who strived throughout their live for developing scientific temper, spirit of enquiry in the country though their works. Particularly, it is shocking to note that Dr. Dhabholkars death was not a natural death, he was brutally murdered by those who were opposed to his ideas. In this issue we are publishing a brief orbituary of these two personalities written by Sandeepan Dhar, a science activist. Dr. Dabholkar was a legendary figure in Maharashtra and contributed significantly in spreading scientific temper and spirit of inquiry. His major contribution was in framing the Anti-superstition and Black Magic Bill, a constitutional mandate of the country. Dr. Vinod Raina was eminent educationalist and architecture of modern education of India. He not only worked to make science teaching easy but developed a new pedagogy. His initiative was the welknown Hoshangabad Science Project. He was also associated Dr Narendra Dabholkar with literacy missions and People's Science in India. When the men on motorbikes shot him, four times immersion of thousands of idols made of plaster of in head, neck and chest, Narendra Dabholkar was Paris. crossing the bridge by the Omkareshwar temple in Dr.Dabholkar exposed Sathya Sai Baba, a Pune, Maharashtra.