G-20 Ignite successfully aroused curiosity about science and technology in Indian school students. The Science and Technology Fair, Ignite, caters to students from class 10 to class 12. It is a flagship event of IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN).
The first edition of the fair was held on April 15, 2023. More than 56 schools across Gujarat participated in the event. More than 450 students benefited from the opportunity to experience the IITGN campus.
Prof. Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, inaugurated the fair. A staunch believer in the early adoption of a scientific mindset, he encouraged students and teachers to embrace a hands-on approach to education and fully utilize the learnings at the fair.
The Student Technical Council and its associated clubs and hobby groups curated workshops and competitions. The Centre for Creative Learning (CCL) and Maker Bhavan at IITGN provided creative inputs and hosted activities at the fair.
The Ideology of G-20 Ignite
The founding team of the event observed that most science and technology events cater to college students. The team felt a glaring need for a festival on this theme for school students.
The event aimed to provide a platform for students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). The goal was to make them experience different aspects of science and technology in a fun learning environment. Encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity among students was the desired outcome. Another agenda was to give them a glimpse of how IITGN blends creativity, learning, and technology.
The benefits for the student community were clear. They could experience in-house technological expertise, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and research facilities at IITGN. A peek into the university’s creative learning programs was a cherry on the cake.
To summarize, G-20 Ignite celebrates technology, inspiration, discovery, and innovation.
An Event With a Difference!
The fair hosted many sci-tech activities like games, quizzes, and workshops to keep students engaged throughout the day. They provided hands-on experience on a range of topics like programming, gaming, 3D printing, laser cutting, and many more.
Teachers, parents, and students enjoyed an interactive experience at the ‘SciToons’ workshop. They learned to convert their homework and science into art and comics. A makeshift theatre showed science-fiction movies for sci-fi fans at the Sci-Flix event. Sci-fi enthusiasts indulged in film extravaganza.
The highlight of the event was the workshop by the Creative Center for Learning (CCL). It engaged students and adults alike as the CCL team made them journey through science. The team also led the initiative of creating a large portrait of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam with 30,000 push pins. The activity was to honor him and try for a world record.
The fair concluded with a ‘Research Showcase’. Labs from all disciplines of IITGN interacted with the participants on various topics. They explained their work through demonstrations, exhibits, experiments, games, and posters. Liquid nitrogen-based ice creams, cool robots, human evolution, and mathematical card tricks immersed students in the magic of science and technology. The exhibition gave students a peek into IITGN’s dynamic research and educational ecosystem.
In addition to the elaborate showcase, the participants toured research labs on campus and got a glimpse of student life at IITGN.
How can a day end without a fun way to wind down? In the evening, participants grooved to peppy songs on their headphones. Yes, it was time for a Silent DJ.
The Power of a Sci-Fest
The fair had a positive impact on students and teachers. Many participants approached the organizers with gratitude and appreciated their efforts. They expressed the desire for making the event into an annual affair. A couple of teachers drew inspiration from the flawless execution of the fest. They showed interest in replicating the format at their schools. In a nutshell, G-20 Ignite enthralled, entertained, and empowered the audience. Its craft, creativity, and content were noteworthy.
Prof. Amit Prashant, Dean, R&D, IIT Gandhinagar, shared his views about the event. “Since its inception, IIT Gandhinagar has been a crucial facilitator of teaching, knowledge dissemination, innovative research, and interactive outreach programs in STEAM fields. Through ‘G20-Ignite’, we want Gen-Z to celebrate and pursue the wonders of science, technology, discovery, and innovation”, he said.