SHILLONG, MAY 11: Students and teachers from across Meghalaya took part in hands-on science and technology demonstrations at the NECTAR STEM Lab here on Monday to mark National Technology Day, organised under this year’s national theme, Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth.
The programme was hosted by the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with the Smart Village Movement and the Science Cell of the Education Department, Government of Meghalaya.
A total of 35 students and 35 teachers from across the state participated in the event.
Activities included robotics with interactive robots and servo-ultrasonic systems, electronics through a working house model, DIY STEM projects such as an e-bike and an electric buzzer game, and an introduction to basic drone technology.
A STEM trainer also gave a presentation on the history and significance of National Technology Day in India.
Speaking at the programme, NECTAR Director General Arun Kumar Sarma said technology is a tool to drive national progress.
“There are a lot of opportunities in front of us. Drone is just one of the tools that can make a huge impact on the activities we carry out on a regular basis. Understanding how these technologies can be put to work is what will help make our country the nation we all dream it can be,” he said.
On STEM education, Sarma said the lab is meant to help students turn ideas into prototypes. “We have a STEM education lab here for exactly that reason. The idea is simple: you have something in mind, now how do you make it real? How do you turn that idea into a prototype? Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics give you that pathway,” he said.
He stressed that students in Meghalaya have the same potential as those in metros, with opportunity being the only gap.
“We often talk about how the standard of education in places like Pune, Mumbai, or Delhi looks different from what we have here in Meghalaya. But the difference is not in the minds of the students. A student’s mind in Delhi and a student’s mind in Meghalaya are exactly the same. The only difference is opportunity. And that is what we are trying to change,” Sarma said.
“The STEM lab is here to support whatever you imagine, not to hand you a fixed kit and tell you to follow instructions,” he added.
Urging students and faculty to experiment without fear of failure, he said, “Do not think about failure. Do not worry about the outcome before you have even started. If you make a bitter cup of tea, you will still be happy to drink it because you made it yourself. That is the mindset we need.”
“My message to the faculty as well: involve the students. Let it be open. Let it go beyond the textbooks. Books will get you marks in an exam, but something beyond books will get you somewhere much further,” Sarma said.
He linked innovation to the national goal of becoming a developed country by 2047. “If that sense of belonging comes to you, the feeling that you are part of this country and you want to contribute to it, I am one hundred percent sure that the dream of becoming a developed nation by 2047 is not far at all,” he said.
The collaboration between NECTAR and the Smart Village Movement aims to bring meaningful technology exposure to communities and institutions across the North East region, particularly those that stand to benefit most from it.
