Activities
ACTIVITIES
National Level:
AISTA, WB always takes part in all activities organised by AISTA at National level. In fact, AISTA, WB (and erstwhile AISTA, WB Branch) always sent a large contingent of delegates in all National Conferences of AISTA. Similarly, AISTA, WB invites the members of AISTA in State Level programmes which are usually attended by President, Secretary and others.
The latest National conferenceof AISTA was attended by 36 delegates, including two vice Presidents, of AISTA, WB. A brief report of the conference is given below:
51stAnnual Conference of All India Science Teachers Association (AISTA) was organised at Swami Vivekanand Vidyapeeth campus, Simultala, Bihar on 27-28thJan., 2024. The focal theme of this conference was “Journey to Moon”. In the opening session, Dr. Rajmoni Prosad Sinha, the President of AISTA, referred to the focal theme and said that the Moon is not our destination but just a step to go farther, to know more and more about our solar system. Sri Banabihari Patra, Vice-President (Administrative), AISTA, WB pointed at the importance of strong scientific knowledge and research on which technology stands and rely on. Sri R.P. Sinha, the Secretary, AISTA, voiced his concern for the students’ craze towards technology.
In the 2nd session, Dr. A.C. Joshi Memorial Lecture on “Mortality and Morbidity” was read out byDr. P. K.Mishra and Sri R. K. Singh jointly as the original presenter could not attend the conference. The major problems of health-care of mother & child, nutrition, de-worming, diarrhoea eradication and mid-day meal for school children were highlighted in the lecture. The day’s schedule came to a close with a very colourful tribal dance program presented by the students of Vivekanand Vidyapeeth.
The 2nd day’s program was inaugurated at 11 am by Sri Ritesh Kr. Gupta, Managing Director of Vivekanand Vidyapeeth. Dr. Rajmoni Prosad Sinha delivered a power point presentation on “Future Energy”. He explained how researchers are trying relentlessly to find ways to control and use energy from non-conventional sources.The relationship between energy and matter, different states of matter etc. were also discussed. The Year 2024 has been declared as the International Year of Camelids by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN. Dr. Subir Kr. Sarkar delivered a power point presentation with many pictures of different species of camels. He emphasised that more than 90 million people depend on these animals in about 90 countries in the world for milk, meat and means for transportation in challenging desert areas and in some mountain areas.
At the concluding session, Sri R. P. Sinha, General Secretary, AISTA stressed the need to increase membership at organisational level, encourage the students and teachers to improve learning aims by performing more activity-based projects and the like. A new Executive Body was formed with some of the existing members and some new ones.
State Level:
State Level activities of AISTA, WB are multifaceted at present.
- Science aptitude and Talent Search Test (SATST) for classes III to X, Essay competition for classes III to XII and Science Pre-Olympiad (SPO) for classes V to VIII annually
- Sit and draw contest, quiz contest, talk contest on topics of science and environment, model competition among students annually
- Plantation programmes, day observance, seminars with teachers and students, workshops and participatory classes with students at different venues
And awarding prizes to some deserving candidates at different programmes are the highlights of programmes of AISTA, WB. The organisation holds annual conference every year (except in cases of emergency), generally in the month of June. The organisation also takes part in collaborating projects with other instituions.
Apart from these, AISTA, WB publishes
Annual Bulletin
- with reports of activities, list of activity centres etc., some relevant articles or research findings
Annual Journal
- with selected/invited articles on science teaching- learning/ research, from science teachers and others
Others
- Popular science books, sample question papers of previous years with some necessary guidance for the tests
Science aptitude and Talent Search Test (SATST) serves as the axis of its various activities and through it, the organisation has reached the remote villages of West Bengal. The organisation expanded to different science activities, even up to research on science education, focussing the under privileged school students of WB. Sometime in the past, number of centres of activities was around 200. The number of centres dropped somewhat for various reasons. However, the number is growing again. Currently there are more than 150 centres of various activities, located in the districts Kolkata, North and South 24 Pgs, Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Midnapore, Nadia, Burdwan, Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar etc. And the number of centres is growing steadily. Conveners (who may or may not be a member of the association) are appointed for the activity centres who keep contact with students of one or several schools in nearby areas.
Science aptitude and Talent Search Test (SATST), a test using Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) on Science, Environment and Mathematics based mainly on the syllabi of WB Boards of Education and Essay competitions on Environmental issues/awareness are held every year on a Sunday in the month of September in different approved centres of AISTA, WB.
SPO, a test based on MCQs on Science, Environment and Mathematics following syllabi of NCERT (and other national and state syllabi too) and mainly intended for somewhat advanced students for giving them a preliminary idea of problems beyond the syllabi which they would face in future for selection to International Olympiads is held for students of classes V to VIII every year on a Sunday in the month of December in different approved centres of AISTA, WB..
Questions of both SATST and SPO are set in English and Bengali media and students can opt either. Evaluated Answer sheets for SATST and SPO are sent to the centres for perusal of the candidates.
Letter grades based on percentile ranks are awarded to the top 20% candidates of SATST and SPO. Prizes are awarded to some of them and toppers of Essay competitions. A small amount of fees are collected from candidates for conducting these tests and Essay competitions.
State Level annual programs for Sit and draw contest, quiz contest, talk contest on topics of science and environment, model competition among students are held usually on the first day of annual conference every year. Toppers in the competitions are awarded certificates and prizes on the same day. Participation certificates are given to all participants.
State Level Toppers of SATST and SPO are given prizes, medals and cash awards in the second day of the Annual Conference. Prof. A. M. Ghosh memorial lecture, in the memory of first President of AISTA (West Bengal Branch) Prof. Ananda Mohan Ghosh, D Sc, the then Head of the Department of Physics, Bose Institute, Kolkata and a distinguished Radiation scientist of his time, is another highlight of the second day’s program. Annual General Meeting of the Association is held in the afternoon session of the second day’s program.
Plantation programmes are usually carried out in July at different schools or other preselected venues. The days having special significance in the realm of Science, Environment and Mathematics are observed at different times and different venues with teachers and students.
The organisation gives immense importance to refreshing the students from monotony of everyday classroom teaching by holding different types of enrichment classes. Students’ and teachers’ workshops are organized as and when possible. Of late we have started participatory classes entitled “NOTUNBHABE SHIKHI” (We learn by new approaches) in schools. Reports of some such programmes are given (in Local level section).
The association publishes its Annual Bulletin entitled “Vigyan Shikshak” with articles and reports of activities in Bengali and English. A journal with research articles on Science, Environment and Science Education in Bengali or English entitled “Vigyan Shikshak” was published for several years, before COVID-19 crisis. Publication of the journal has been suspended since 2020. However, it is expected that its publication will be resumed soon.
The Association has published several books in Bengali (and/or in English also) entitled
1) Vigyan Jigyasa in Bengali for Classes III to VI.
2) Questions and answers on Science and Mathematics for Classes III to X (both Bengali and English versions).
3) Quiz Quest-e Paribesh,
4) Question papers of SATST and SPO of past years (both Bengali and English versions).
These Publications are available on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday
1) All India Science Teachers’ Association, West Bengal – 25/1, Chandranath Chatterjee Street, Kolkata-25 (Wednesday and Saturday, between 2-30pm and 5-30pm)
2) BIBARTAN – 16, Nabin Kundu Lane, Kolkata – 700 009, Phone: 9883168027 / 9883168083
3) KALIMATA BOOK STALL – 5, Bankim Chatterjee Street, Kolkata – 700 073, mobile no. 9748023677/ 9007639039
4) DEY’S PUBLISHING, 13 Bankim Chatterjee Street, Kolkata-700073, Phone (033) 22412330 / 22197920
5) Parul Boi, College Street Barna Parichay market, Gate no. 4, first floor, Kolkata – 700073, Mobile: 9836609706
The Association’s activities are guided by a memorandum of association and an executive body, elected by members present in Annual General Meeting for three years and approved by the act of registration of societies, 1961, undertakes decision making. The Association keeps records of finance, audits it and renews registration every year.
The activities of AISTA, WB are guided, controlled and carried out (partly) from its self-possessed office (covered space about 1000 sft.) at Bhawanipur, Kolkata (near Jadubabur Bazar/ Netaji Bhaban Metro Station).The office remains open generally on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday from 2-30pm to 5-30pm (except on holidays/emergency). The Association has a small stock of science books in the office for use of the members/conveners.
For smooth running of the activities, the Association tries to stabilize its financial position by collecting endowment funds and donations, institutional funds or funds from Govt. organisations.
AISTA, WB started to work ONLINE at the time of COVID-19 crisis. SATST was held in 2020 and 2021 online. SPO was held online in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2024 SPO will be taken both online and offline. Executive body meetings and Annual General Meetings of 2020 and 2021 were held online. Currently, various meetings for different programmes are often held online. Some Executive body meetings have also been held online.
The association is trying to expand online activities so as to reach at distant corners of the state (may be the country too). An ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAMME ENTITLED “AMRA SHIKHI” (WE LEARN) has been launched at the Annual Conference 2024 of the association. This programme would be of significance at state and national level.
District Level:
As of now, the members of the association in any district and the conveners of different activity centres in the district conduct district level programmes. They are encouraged to conduct sit and draw contest, quiz contest, talk contest on topics of science and environment, model competition among students and send the toppers to participate in the state level programmes.
Formation of district committees for organising programmes in the district is underway. It is expected that district committees for AISTA, WB in most of the districts of West Bengal will be formed soon.
Local Level:
Plantation programmes, day observance, seminars with teachers and students, workshops and participatory classes with students at different venues are held at local level, although the planning and controlling of such programmes are usually done currently at state level in consultation with the local authorities. Whenever authorities of any school contact AISTA, WB, the association tries to arrange a programme that would suit them. Post COVID-19 period (2022 onwards), such programmes were held in Murshidabad, North and South 24 Pgs, East Midnapore, Jalpaiguri districts. Some brief reports of two recent workshops cum participatory classes (held in April 2024) entitled “NOTUNBHABE SHIKHI” (We learn by new approaches) are given below.
The programme at Noorpur Panchanan Paik Smriti Vidyalaya (H. S.), North 24 Pgs was held on 05-04-2024. Nine teachers encompassing the areas of Life Sc., Physical Sc. and Mathematics interacted with the students of classes VII to X in two sessions. The children participated with great interest and the teachers including Headmaster of the school welcomed the team of AISTA, WB and provided appropriate hospitality. The AISTA, WB team included two vice Presidents of AISTA, WB and one guest teacher (a retired Associate Professor of Physics). The initial contact for programme came through the General Secretary of AISTA, WB and the President of AISTA, WB provided necessary guidance to make it a success.
The programme at Kulpi Kalika Vidyapith (H. S.), South 24 Pgs was held on 09-04-2024 for students of classes VII to X. The initial contact for programme came through the General Secretary of AISTA, WB and the President of AISTA, WB was personally present at the programme. Headmaster and teachers of the school welcomed the team from AISTA, WB and provided stunning hospitality. Two sessions were allotted for interactions. The students participated with great interest and some of the teachers of the school observed the interactions in the classes. Eight teachers, all members of AISTA, WB including one vice President, encompassing the areas of Life Sc., Physical Sc. and Mathematics interacted with the students. Some of the teachers of the school interacted with teachers from AISTA, WB after the classes.
SATST, Essay writing and SPO are also conducted at local level following some specific rules set out by the Executive committee from time to time. The rules to open new centre and organizing tests are given in the NOTICE section.
Collaborative Programme: AISTA, WB welcomes collaborative programmes with other organisations by deputing members for carrying out works or sending selected students to take part in the programmes or in both ways. Recently (in May 2024) such an activity was organised at Calcutta Institute of Engineering and Management (CIEM) for model making by students of different schools. In recent years, Annual conferences of AISTA, WB are also held in collaboration with some or other institution/organizations.
Upcoming activities: Apart from the routine bound activities AISTA, WB is going to celebrate its Golden Jubilee (1975-2024) by year-long activities. New tasks are provisionally planned, as indicated Below.
