About us
Vidnyanvahini
'Vidnyanvahini' was founded in 1995 by returning NRIs from USA Pushpa
and Dr. Madhukar Deshpande. They mobilized a group of volunteers who,
through a brain storming session over two days, shaped the methodology
and syllabus of the Mobile Science Lab (MSL), the flagship activity of the Vidnyanvahini.
Starting with seven core members, the organization now has a volunteer force of more than
two dozen members.
The flagship project of Vidnyanvahini is the Mobile Science Laboratory (MSL): a minibus imaginatively designed to accommodate storage for lab apparatus, audio-visual equipment, laptops, an uninterruptible power supply powered by the engine battery, a generator, portable lab tables, an overhead water tank and a small wash room. The original MSL built in 1995 has since been replaced twice with newer models bought with the help of generous donations from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Cognizant Foundation.
"Vidnyanvahini, a not-for-profit organization located in Pune in India, seeks to bridge the huge gap that exists in the standard of teaching science between rural and urban schools in the state of Maharashtra. This is sought to be done through a variety of activities.
The backbone of Vidnyanvahini is its team of volunteers consisting of retired scientists, engineers and teachers, collectively called the Dialogue and Action Group (DAG). The MSL carries a team of five to six members of DAG to the selected school on a given day. Priority is given to small rural high schools, which lack a science laboratory and do not enjoy state grants. During a tightly organised full-day session, students perform some science experiments themselves in groups of 4 to 6 and observe demonstration of others. The theoretical principles underlying the experiments are also explained to them. This is supplemented by educational audio-visual material, exposure to sessions on the environment, hygiene and guidance on issues of adolescence. In a typical year around 135 school visits are made by the MSL.
Besides school visits, a number of teacher-training workshops are held to enhance science-teaching skills among rural school teachers. An annual student camp seeks to expose rural students to a variety of developments in science and technology through presentations from subject experts and visits to factories, and laboratories. In addition, several book-bags are distributed to schools as mobile libraries.
Vidnyanvahini is constituted as a public trust. It does not charge schools for its visits and operates solely on public donations.
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DAG
The Dialogue and Action Group (DAG) of Vidnyanvahini consists of more than two
dozen volunteers who have various backgrounds such as teachers, professors,
scientists, engineers, etc. They all have degrees in science-related topics
and they love teaching children develop skills in performing experiments and
cultivating a rational temperament.
Dialogue and Action Group Members
- Pushpa Deshpande, President
- Kiran Phatak, Secretary
- Jayant Phalke, Treasurer
- Urmila Parchure, Coordinator
- Achyut Sapre
- Aparna Ambekar
- Asawari Adke
- Ashok Prabhu
- Atik Shekh
- Dattatreya Dewal
- Dr. Kiran Phatak
- Dr. Pradnya Deshpande
- Meghana Mhaskar
- Mukund Bhadbhade
- Nalini Mungel
- Narendra Bhide
- Nirmal Rege
- Nirmala Sathe
- Pushpa Palkar
- Rohini Atre
- Shailaja Joshi
- Shirish Mokashi
- Shubhangi Parkar
- Snehal Godse
- Srinivas Tatake
- Suresh Yerunkar
- Suvarnalata Kandalgaonkar
- Ulhas Vaishampayan
- Umesh Godbole
- Urmila Parchure
- Vinayak Dixit
- Vivek Erande
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MSL
The Mobile Science laboratory (MSL) is a vehicle which travels most working days to a school.
It contains lab equipment necessary for performing experiments for school children.
It also contains a TV and DVD player, cabinets for storing the equipment, portable tables,
generator, an overhead water tank, a wash basin and space for 6-8 volunteers to travel....
Read MSL details
