Ten undergraduate students from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi, spent five days teaching science through hands-on activities at government schools in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district as part of a rural outreach programme held from September 27 to October 1.Led by Prof Parminder Kaur Narang, the programme took university-level scientific learning beyond the classroom, with students preparing experimental modules and conducting interactive demonstrations for school students. The SGTB Khalsa College team used activities on food adulteration, forensic analysis and ball-and-stick models to explain scientific concepts and their real-world applications.The students spent four days in Kanoh village, where they also interacted with local communities and experienced life away from the urban environment. The programme was organised under the aegis of INSCR, FEMS, ISME, INSA and IUMS, under the mentorship of Prof. Rup Lal and Prof. Sukanya Lal, in association with six colleges of the University of Delhi.For the undergraduate students, the programme also offered an opportunity to engage with students and communities outside their usual academic environment. The organisers said the initiative was aimed at familiarising rural school students with contemporary science through simple, experiential demonstrations while encouraging interaction between students from different social and educational backgrounds.Ritul Mishra, a second year student who participated in the outreach programme, said the experience offered a chance to interact closely with the children and experience rural life, “The fresh and peaceful surroundings of the village gave me a refreshing break from the usual college environment and allowed me to experience rural life closely. I really enjoyed interacting with the local people and, especially, working with the children. They were very enthusiastic, curious and friendly, which made conducting the activities and explaining the ball-and-stick model even more enjoyable.”The students also conducted a forensic-themed module, “Who’s the Killer? – A Forensic Murder Mystery”, introducing school students to basic forensic concepts through activities. “It was so nice to see the kids participate, ask questions and enjoy learning something new. Apart from teaching, we also had a great time interacting with students from other colleges and making memories during our travels,” said Anvesha Singh, a second year student. For some participants, the school visits also provided a closer look at the educational environment in rural communities. “Assisting in the various schools while delivering our lessons to the children was not only exciting but also fulfilling as I saw the eyes of those students filled with a sense of curiosity,” said Ayush Jha, a second-year student.The programme brought together scientific learning and community interaction, giving school students an opportunity to engage with university students through practical activities while allowing the undergraduate participants to experience a setting beyond their regular college environment.
