Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Aug 11: Provincial Superior of the Apostolic Carmel, Karnataka Province Sr Carmel Rita AC along with other dignitaries inaugurated the 'Atal Tinkering Lab' here on Saturday, August 11 at Mount Carmel Central School auditorium, established under the aegis of NITI Aayog, Government of India.

Addressing the gathering Sr Carmel Rita said," It is a very proud moment for Mount Carmel Central School to own 'Atal Tinkering Lab'. Students are the resource persons of this lab where they can discover themselves, innovate, execute their new ideas and work on their creativity. I urge students to make best use of this lab and I wish all the success for their future endeavors,”

Chief Guest, MLA of Mangaluru North, Dr Bharath Y Shetty said, "I am very privileged to be part of this inaugural function. This is the age where you are guided and moulded. Usually the teachers define students depending on their behaviour, which should not be the case. The parents also want students to think their way. Some parents pressurize on their marks where there is a possibility of pushing them to depression which should be avoided. Students should make best use of the ATL, as it gives a lot of scope for hands on activities on science and technology,”

"Children will not learn by others’ experience. They should experience them on their own. We should also make students to learn about patriotism and it is important how they build up their character. Education should teach patriotism to show their responsibility towards the nation,” he added.

Former MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik said, "NITI Aayog has taken up this initiative to have tinkering lab to transform country through young minds. This lab will definitely help you to think innovative and bring your creativity and ideas into reality Students need to think in an innovative perspective which helps them to excel in their future,”

Training Head, Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management Dr Molly Chaudhuri said," Students need to ask questions. When you ask questions you get variety of answers. Earlier we had a science lab and we used to experiment many things and were very curious. When we experimented, we ended up finding accidental inventions. Whatever you see today are accidental inventions. There are few inventions which are due to persistent, focused and planned to do something that are achieved over a period of time. Students need to be passionate and crazy to do something, believe in credibility, work hard to achieve success,”

Principal of the School Sr Melissa welcomed the gathering, vice principal Sr Lidwyn Pinto rendered vote of thanks. Craig D’Souza gave the significance of the day and Roshna Narayan compeered the programme.

PTA vice president Ryan Lobo, Administrator Sr Carissima AC, Coordinator Sr Marie Lucy AC, Contractor Sanjeeva Dandekeri, members of PTEC, a few teachers and students of the local schools and the staff and students of MCCS were present for the inaugural ceremony.

After the formal inauguration, the dignitaries were led to the venue of Atal Tinkering Lab where Dr Bharath Shetty inaugurated the lab by cutting the ribbon, while Fr Stervin Fernando SCJ, the Superior of Maria Kripa, Betharam Fathers, blessed the lab.

The dignitaries, guests, few teachers of neighbouring schools and parents then went round the lab where the students explained to them a few innovative models they created within a day. The crowd was impressed with the 3D printer and models like hovercraft, automatic door lock, laser security alarm, remote controller car, street light using LDR etc. It was indeed a stimulus to the brains of all gathered.

About Atal Tinkering Lab

Mount Carmel Central School is privileged to be one among the 3000 schools selected across the country by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), New Delhi to establish Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) that encourages innovation thinking among young students. The schools were selected from over 25,000 applications from all over the country.

ATL is a workspace where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands-on do-it-yourself mode and learn innovation skills. The vision is to cultivate 1 Million children in India as Neoteric Innovators. The objective of this scheme is to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc. Students will get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand what, how and why aspects of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

ATL would contain educational and learn “do it yourself” kits and equipment's on – science, electronics, robotics, open source micro controller boards, sensors, Internet of things (IoT), 3D printers etc.