Are you aware of what Science Express means? Have you heard of Science Express Biodiversity special and Science Express Climate Action Special? Science Express is been reckoned as an innovative and ingenious mobile science exhibit held by the Government of India Department of Science and Technology – DST on a 16 coach AC train. Isn’t it fascinating and creative enough to read and imagine? The main aim of it is to meet the arising interests and queries of youth and dynamic people these days in the science and technology field and reckoning the same, it was been held at Safdarjung railway station in year 2007. Since its introduction in that year, this unique and innovative mobile science exhibition has actually completed about 8 phases involving 4 of ‘Science Express’ and 3 of ‘Biodiversity Special’ and 1 of ‘Climate Action Special’.
The major visitors were students and teachers and by far it has actually made a tour of about 1, 41,800 km and made halts at 455 railway stations in an entire journey of 1602 exhibition days. The amazing record and stats has actually made it count among one of the widely visited and longest running mobile science and technology exhibition that has made entry about 6 times in the famous Limca book of records. In the period from 2007 to 2011, this train made people aware about the micro as well as macro cosmos depicting the positives and strengths of science in fulfilling global challenges involving innovations and recent discoveries in the modern science field. In fact, the coaches were depicted thematically on the basis of building blocks of life, bing bang, architecture of mind, nano cosmos, world of senses, from gene to organism, data to knowledge, sensors, spaceship earth, the universe, our home in the cosmos and global challenges. It was a pure bliss and full of knowledge especially for students who always feel keen to know more about the cutting edge science as well as technology via models, prototypes, exhibits and even audio video displays that have been placed in the coaches.
In 2015, it has been redesigned for the eighth phase as Science Express Climate Action Special and ran on the Indian rail tracks aiming to spread knowledge among people about climate change, possible responses and observed anticipated impacts due to the same. This advanced and very much knowledgeable mobile exhibition focused on spreading word among different sections of the society especially students about and how climate change could be tackled through adaptation and mitigation. Such a thoughtful initiative it was taken by DST, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Environment, Department of Biotechnology and Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, isn’t it? In this phase, it travelled all around the nation making stoppages at about 64 locations based in 20 states covering an overall journey of 19,800 km. Adding to this, it got an amazing response from students, teachers and visitors from all across the globe with a rough estimate of about 23,24,240 visitors. In all, it was open to all but mainly focus was on students and teachers.
Tour Schedule: 17 February – 8 September 2017
No. | Station | Exhibition Dates | No. | Station | Exhibition Dates |
1 | Delhi Safdarjung (Flag off) |
17 Feb 2017 | 35 | Kottavalasa | 20 – 23 May 2017 |
2 | Delhi Cantt | 18 – 19 Feb 2017 | 36 | Gudivada | 24 – 26 May 2017 |
3 | Hisar | 20 – 23 Feb 2017 | 37.. | Mirylaguda | 27 – 30 May 2017 |
4 | Dhuri | 24 – 26 Feb 2017 | 38 | Gulberga | 31 May-2 Jun 2017 |
5 | Taran Taran | 27 – 28 Feb 2017 | 39 | Kalluru | 3 – 5 Jun 2017 |
6 | Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra | 1 – 2 Mar 2017 | 40 | Whitefield | 6 – 8 Jun 2017 |
7 | Udhampur | 3 – 4 Mar 2017 | 41 | Kengeri | 9 – 11 Jun 2017 |
8 | Nangal Dam | 6 – 7 Mar 2017 | 42 | Koduru | 12 – 14 Jun 2017 |
9 | Sirhind | 8 – 10 Mar 2017 | 43 | Puducherry | 15 – 16 Jun 2017 |
10 | Chandigarh | 12 & 14 Mar 2017 | 44 | Attur | 17 – 19 Jun 2017 |
11 | Rampur | 15 – 17 Mar 2017 | 45 | Karur | 20 – 22 Jun 2017 |
12 | Kasganj City | 18 – 20 Mar 2017 | 46 | Kodaikanal Road | 24 Jun 2017 |
13 | Khalilabad | 22 – 25 Mar 2017 | 47 | Virudhunagar | 25 – 27 Jun 2017 |
14 | Mau | 26 – 29 Mar 2017 | 48 | Arumuganeri | 28 – 30 Jun 2017 |
15 | Gaya | 30 – 31 Mar 2017 | 49 | Kayankulam | 1 – 4 Jul 2017 |
16 | Patna | 1 – 2 Apr 2017 | 50 | Guruvayur | 5 – 7 Jul 2017 |
17 | Kiul | 3 – 4 Apr 2017 | 51 | Kannur | 8 – 10 Jul 2017 |
18 | Sitamarhi | 5 Apr 2017 | 52 | Vasco Da Gama | 11 – 13 Jul 2017 |
19 | Anajmandi (Rewari) | 6 Apr 2017 | 53 | Ratnagiri | 14 – 17 Jul 2017 |
20 | Salmari | 7 – 8 Apr 2017 | 54 | Mumbai CST | 19 – 22 Jul 2017 |
21 | Fakiragram | 9 – 10 Apr 2017 | 55 | Nasik Road | 24 – 26 Jul 2017 |
22 | Lumding | 11 – 12 Apr 2017 | 56 | Murtajapur | 27 – 29 Jul 2017 |
23 | Agartala | 13 – 14 Apr 2017 | 57 | Nagpur | 30 Jul-02 Aug 2017 |
24 | Badarpur | 15 – 17 Apr 2017 | 58 | Amla | 3 – 6 Aug 2017 |
25 | North Lakhimpur | 19 – 21 Apr 2017 | 59 | Habibganj | 7 – 9 Aug 2017 |
26 | Rangpara North | 22 – 24 Apr 2017 | 60 | Bina | 10 – 12 Aug 2017 |
27 | Bagdogra | 25 – 26 Apr 2017 | 61 | Khajuraho | 13 – 14 Aug 2017 |
28 | Dhanbad | 27 – 30 Apr 2017 | 62 | Marwar | 17 – 18 Aug 2017 |
29 | Barrackpore | 1 – 2 May 2017 | 63 | Balotra | 19 – 21 Aug 2017 |
30 | Kalyani | 3 – 5 May 2017 | 64 | Deesa | 22 – 24 Aug 2017 |
31 | Chandil | 6 – 8 May 2017 | 65 | Bhuj | 25 – 27 Aug 2017 |
32 | Bhadrak | 9, 11 & 12 May 2017 | 66 | Bhaktinagar | 28 – 31 Aug 2017 |
33 | Puri | 13 – 16 May 2017 | 67 | Gondal | 1 – 4 Sep 2017 |
34 | Chatarpur | 17 – 19 May 2017 | 68 | Gandhinagar Capital | 5 – 8 Sep 2017 |