3-day residential chemistry camp for school students begins at KU

Srinagar, Sep 12: To spark an interest in chemistry and to gain hands-on experience through experiments, the Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir (KU) in association with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the United Kingdom (UK) Tuesday inaugurated a three-day residential Yusuf Hamied chemistry camp for school children.
The university is hosting a three-day camp that runs through September 14 to provide important educational content to the ninth (9th) grade students belonging to various government schools of Kashmir.
Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof Nilofer Khan said the education system is changing rapidly and that we have to take all on board to keep tabs on the changing educational landscape.
“Children at this age are very creative and innovative so we need to incubate their ideas and tap their energies for future,” she said adding, the students need to change their mindset towards experiential learning for their potential employability.
She further said the camp gives an exceptional opportunity to the young students to gain experience through experimentation and interaction.
She said besides being an extraordinary professional and scientist of great stature, Dr Yusuf Hamied is an exemplary human being for he has contributed not only to the field of science but to the whole of humankind.
Dean Academic Affairs, University of Kashmir, Prof Farooq Ahmad Masoodi said being a good human being is as important as being a good professional and such camps provide the required training and experience by orienting the students towards that direction.
“Flexibility leads to acceptability and that is the essence of such camps and adjusting to a different environment is an invaluable experience in itself,” he said.
Registrar, University of Kashmir, Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir said such camps provide students with the opportunities and experiences that will go a long way in shaping their lives – personal, academic and professional.
“Through this first-of-its-kind camp, you will learn how to balance between your personal and professional lives by getting acclimatised to the subject of chemistry and simultaneously to different life situations and scenarios,” he said adding, the camp will make the students tough and resilient.
Head, Department of Chemistry, University of Kashmir, Prof Aijaz Ahmad Dar appreciated the parents and guardians by entrusting the department with educating and nurturing their children during the camp.
“We got more than 600 applications from every corner of Kashmir demonstrating the commitment of the parents for quality education of their children studying in government schools,” he said hoping the camp would enable the students to appreciate how nature works and instill in them a spirit to making chemistry as their career.
Camp coordinator from RSC, Melissa Mendonza also spoke on the occasion and provided the context, overview, objectives and achievements of the Yusuf Hamied camps conducted in India so far.