Vigyan Prasar (VP) - Department of Science & Technology

VIGYAN PRASAR (VP), NOIDA
A. Organization Particulars
1. Name of the Institute : Vigyan Prasar, Noida
2. Established in the year : 1989
3. Number of scientists/faculty : 12
4. Total number of regular employees : 33
B. Report on Activities during 2011-12
C. Areas of Focus: Science and Technology Communication
D. Major Accomplishments: Vigyan Prasar conceptualized a number of programmes during the
International Year of Chemistry-2011 and successfully completed a majority of those. VP continued
to play a major role in disseminating science and technology throughout the country and produced
science communication materials and disseminated through print and digital media. A total number of
42 books including reprints were published. Television programmes were produced and telecast
through Doordarshan and Lok Sabha TV. Science radio programmes were broadcast through 117
AIR stations in 19 Indian languages. A number of workshops were conducted throughout the country
for students, teachers and science communicators. VP brought out monthly science magazines namely
Dream 2047 and VIPNET News. A number of training workshops were conducted for science
clubs.
E. Important Highlights of Major Programmes:
Programmes during International Year of Chemistry
• VP produced 26 episode radio Serial “Colours of Chemistry’. This was broadcast through 117
radio stations of All India Radio, in 19 Indian Languages.
• Activity kit and interactive CD on Chemistry
Vigyan Prasar developed an activity kit (English and Hindi) on chemistry jointly with Gujarat
Council of Science City, Ahmedabad. Forty-five activities related to Chemistry can be performed
using the kit.
An interactive CD on innovative experiments in Chemistry was developed by Vigyan Prasar.
• Nationwide Sensitization Programme for Chemistry Teachers
Nationwide sensitization programmes for Chemistry teachers were organized at Allahabad
(UP),Delhi, Palakkad(Kerala) Madurai (TN),Guwahati(Assam),Jammu(J&K), Vadodara (Guj),
Goa ,Vijayawada (AP).Total 500 teachers were trained in through these programmes.
• Demonstration Programmes
Demonstration programme of activities kits/experiments were organized at different places of
the country. 700 students and 200 teachers participated.
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• Development of activities on Green Chemistry
ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012
VP is working towards the development of an awareness programme on Green Chemistry in
collaboration with Green Chemistry Network Center, Department of Chemistry, University of
Delhi.
• Activity Book on Chemistry behind Miracle
Vigyan Prasar is in process to develop an activity book on “Chemistry behind Miracles” to
explain the miracles shown by God men and others in scientific way and book on success
stories on Indian Chemistry.
• Chemistry Quiz Programme
Vigyan Prasar jointly with Chronicle Groups is organizing Chemistry Quiz on monthly basis.
This is being published in Civil Services Chronicle Magazine every month both in Hindi and
English and this programme will continue up to January – 2012.
Science programmes on Television
• Telecast by Doordarshan
A 12-part video serial ‘Our Celestial Neighbour- Far and Near’, was telecast during 10th May,
2011 to 26 July, 2011 every Tuesday on DD National at 09:30 am -10:00 am.
A 13-part video serial ‘Nano Ki Duniya’ telecast during 2nd August, 2011 to 25 October, 2011
every Tuesday on DD National at 09:30 at -10:00 AM. Nano Ki Duniya based on Nanotechnology.
A 26-part Video serial Science Video Serial “Kuch Tukke - Kuch Teer: Prayog Jinhone Duniya Bdal
di (Experiments That Shaped the World)” telecast from 1 st November, 2011 in DD National at
08:30-09:00 am.
• Lok Sabha TV
A 42-part video serial ‘AISA HI HOTA HAI” telecast from 2nd January, 2011 every Sunday on Lok
sabha TV at 9:30-10:00 AM.
Weekly current affairs/ news based video programme “Vigyan Darpan” in Hindi and “Science this
Week” in English is being telecast every Thursday and Friday at 09:30- 10:00 PM from Lok Sabha
TV.
Radio Programmes
Science radio programmes produced by Vigyan Prasar were broadcast through 117 radio stations of
All India Radio, in 19 Indian languages.
• Radio serial “Colours of Life” based on Bio- diversity(13 Episode)
• Radio Serial ‘Swa-Shakti” based on Women Empowerment(13 Episode)
• Radio Serial “Baat Vigyan Ni” in Bhil language (13 episodes)
This 13-episode radio serial was broadcasted from Akashvani Kendra Indore, (MP)

Networking through EduSAT interactive terminals
Intercative live programmes through EduSAT terminals on different aspects of science were organized.
Presently there are 50 terminals.
Publication Programme
A total number of 42 books including reprints were published. Various publishers have brought out
Vigyan Prasar’s publication in different Indian languages.
VP brought out all 12 issues of bilingual science magazine ‘Dream 2047’ and activity based magazine
‘VIPNET News’ for science clubs. Dream 2047 has 50000 subscribers and e-version has 4000
subscribers. VP is encouraging e-version of the magazine.
Readers’ responses of Dream 2047 have been analyzed and actions initiated to implement the
recommendations.
VIPNET Science clubs
VP has established a nation-wide network of science clubs called VIPNET Science clubs. Presently
there are over 10000 science clubs located in 425 districts of the country. Training programmes on handson
science activities for the members of the science clubs are being organized.
Vigyan Prasar Information System and Laboratories
VP website continues to be one of the most comprehensive website on S&T communication. Digital
Library has become very popular. It has over three lakhs readers.
Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela and Competition (RVCMC) -2012
To felicitate, recognize and encourage science film producers and production of S&T related films/
videos as well as to attract outstanding science and technology video films produced in the country to set
new bench mark for excellence. Vigyan Prasar has initiated Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela and Competition
since year 2011. Award winning films were felicitated and shortlisted films were screened during 99th session of Indian Science Congress at KIIT University, Bhubneswar.
National Technology Day Celebration – 2011
Vigyan Prasar organized the first Round Table Discussion on “Chemistry and Clean Technologies” on
the occasion of National Technology Day at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi on
May 12, 2011.
Brainstorming workshop on Technology Communication
Vigyan Prasar has taken up initiatives towards technology communication to the masses. A two day
brainstorming workshop on “Technology Communication – the Way Ahead” was organized jointly with
Centre for Rural Development & Technology and Hindi Cell of IIT Delhi during September 27-28, 2011.
Workshops on Science Broadcasting
Vigyan Prasar organised four regional workshops on Science Broadcasting in New Delhi, Lucknow,
Kolkata and Pune. These workshops were organized in collaboration with Indian Institute of Mass
Communication, New Delhi; Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow; University of Calcutta, Kolkata
and Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune respectively.
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Exhibition and Dissemination
VP has been taking part in different exhibitions/book fairs throughout the country and disseminating
science through posters, charts, multimedia CD-ROMs etc.
VP has been regularly participating DST-INSPIRE science camps. Lectures and demonstrations are
being organized by VP for the participating students.
Astronomy Activities
VP has initiated national campaigns, workshops, training programmes and mass mobilization for
popularization of astronomy. Vigyan Prasar has planned a nation-wide programme to be taken up on the
occasion of Venus-Transit - 2012.
HAM radio
VP has conducted a number of demonstration-cum-training workshops in different parts of the country
to popularize HAM radio.
F. Major and Unique National Facilities created : NIL
G. Important collaborations (national and global) established:
“Development of life skills integrated learning materials” for National Institute of Open Schooling
(NIOS)
Vigyan Prasar in collaboration with NIOS and UNPFA (United Nations Population Fund) is developing
material on “Development of life skills integrated learning materials” for secondary curriculum in science for
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). This project is being coordinated by UNFPA- MHRD,
Govt. of India supported Adolescence Education Programme (AEP in Schools).
H. Important Output Indicators for 2011-12
S.No. Parameters Output
1. Papers in refereed journals 2
2. Books 2
3. Chapters in Books 8
4. Papers in Conferences 20
5. Number of Ph.Ds. produced -
6. Foreign Patents filed -
7. Foreign Patents granted -
8. Indian Patents filed -
9. Indian Patents granted -
10. Number of Technologies/Designs and other intellectual products commercialized -
11. Number of Technology leads awaiting transfer -
12. Research Manpower trained (other than Ph.Ds) -
13. Technical Manpower trained -
14. B.Tech/ UG projects guided 2
15. M.Tech/M.Sc./M.Phil projects guided 1
16. Articles published in magazines/journals 40
17. Books published, including reprint 42
ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012