HYDERABAD: On Friday morning, M. Sai Varun Reddy was exposed to a whole new world of optics. By

afternoon, he was dabbling with a spectrometer, an instrument used for measuring the properties

of light.

“I have to cut graph between the angle of incidence and deviation,” he said gazing at the

tube-like device. “And then, I have to calculate minimum deviation and the refractive index.”

For most, these may sound like Greek and Latin. It was so for Sai Varun too, but a two-hour

theory class later, he was befriending the device.

“In the theory classes, we were taught the basics and now each of us was given an experiment to

work on,” the class nine student of Kendriya Vidyalaya said. Similar was the case with A. Ravi

Chandra of Sri Guru Dutta High School, Nallakunta. “I learnt colorimetry and conductometry.

Later, there was a demonstration of conduction properties of different solutions in a

conductometer.”

The two were among 45 class nine students selected by Dr. A.S. Rao Awards Council through a

State-wide talent search examination conducted in December last year. Coming from different

places in the State from Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam to Khammam and Hyderabad, they were

participating in a six-day residential science workshop at Vikas Concept School, Miyapur.

No project work

“We want to motivate young minds to study basic sciences using advanced techniques. Our aim is

to create interest in basic sciences, nurture talent and improve their creativity,” said C.

Nageswara Rao, convener, Dr. A.S. Rao Awards Council. “Nowadays, there are no project works in

schools and most schools are neglecting sciences and projects.”

The Council offers participating students an opportunity to interact with experts, be tutored by

them and conduct experiments under their supervision. Most importantly, as Mr. Rao points out,

“All these experiments are based on applications.

“For example, in physics they are asked how to improve surface tension, if it is used in a

detergent. Is the surface tension sufficient? How do you make it better?”

This year they have professors from the University of Hyderabad and Osmania University and

scientists from Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) for faculty, said K. Rama Raju,

project administrator.

“Each of the students will be assigned a project based on their interest which they will have to

present on the last day. All the projects will be assessed by experts.”

The efforts of the Council seem to be bearing fruit. “I want to be a scientist and do research

in chemistry or physics,” said Ravi Chandra. Chipped in Sai Varun, “I will be a researcher.

Physics is my first love.”