National Plasma Physics Exhibition starts from today at USTM

Staff Reporter, Guwahati, August 1: A 5-day long National Exhibition and Seminar on Plasma Physics has been inaugurated today at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya by Shri Lahkmen Rymbui, Education Minister of Meghalaya in the presence of Prof. G. D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, USTM; Prof. B. K. Saikia, Centre Director, CPP-IPR, Assam; Dr. A. V. Ravi Kumar, Scientist-H, Head Outreach Division, IPR, Gujrat; Shri Varun Mitra, Deputy Commissioner, K. V. Sangathan, Regional Office, Guwahati, Dr BK Das, Pro VC, USTM and other science enthusiasts, faculty members and students. This exciting exhibition cum seminar on Plasma Science and Technology has been organized by the department of Physics, USTM in collaboration with CPP-IPR Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India under the theme “Azadi Ka Amrit Mohatsav” from August 1 to 5. The exhibition is being participated by more than 500 school and college students from about 50 educational institutions of Guwahati, Kokrajhar and Ri Bhoi. Inaugurating the program, Meghalaya Education Minister Shri Lahkmen Rymbui said that innovation and research for societal transformation must be focused by educational institutions. He urged young students to take research and innovation as a powerhouse of knowledge and also said that the initiative by USTM to involve school and college students in scientific endeavors is a very positive and inspiring step. “We must know how to empower ourselves with the use of Plasma in our lives”, he added.

Addressing the gathering Prof GD Sharma, VC, USTM said that this exhibition will motivate students to do research on plasma which can open new avenues of learning at school level. “USTM is also planning to have a center for Plasma Research and a separate paper for Plasma Research”, he added. Dr. A. V. Ravi Kumar, Scientist-H, Head Outreach Division, IPR, Gujrat thanked USTM for organizing this unique 5-day exhibition. Shri Varun Mitra, Deputy Commissioner, K. V. Sangathan was of the opinion that after solid, liquid and gas, the fourth state of matter present in the universe is plasma while appealing to the students to think out of the box. Dr B K Saikia, Centre Director, CPP-IPR, Assam suggested including plasma physics in the school curriculum. Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by Dr. Sanchita Roy, HoD, Department of Physics, USTM. The Exhibition includes displaying working plasma devices, plasma device models, popular talks by eminent scientists on plasma science and technology, training of both school and college students, quiz competition among students and interaction with scientists and experts. The exhibition is open for participation of students of schools, colleges, universities and the general public from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm on the said dates. Posters and Comic Book on Plasma and other resource materials will be also provided during the exhibition. Interested participants can contact through email: nespp2022@gmail.com or WhatsApp to 94350-50854. The venue for the exhibition is: D-206, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Block, USTM.