Prof. Neeraja Raghavan, Founder-Director of Thinking Teacher gave a talk on Teaching Science as a way of Thinking on the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development on 10 November. The talk was organised by the Cultural Wing of the Students Life Committee (SLC). The event began with a welcome session by the student representative, followed by a talk by the Invited Speaker Dr. Neeraja Raghavan, Q&A session, talk by Prof. Harjinder Singh and another Q&A session. The event concluded with a crossword puzzle on science and technology by the students. Dr. Indranil Chakrabarty coordinated the event.
Prof. Neeraja Raghavan has a doctorate degree in Chemistry from Princeton University, USA and her last position was professor at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. She worked with Azim Premji Foundation for almost eight years, mainly in the field of Science teacher education, pedagogy and curriculum development. She has taught in several mainstream as well as alternative schools in India and has been the Principal of a couple of schools. She developed an Alternative Middle School Science Curriculum for SHIKSHAMITRA, Kolkata, a school for slum children, in 2007. She also developed the Middle School Science Curriculum for THE SCHOOL, Krishnamurti Foundation India, Chennai in March-May 2006, so as to suit their unique needs and ethos. Her research interests currently focus on teacher development through reflective practice.
World Science Day for Peace and Development is an international day that highlights the important role that science has in society and is celebrated each year on 10 November. It also highlights the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. World Science Day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2001 and celebrated for the first time in 2002.
By linking science more closely with society, World Science Day aims to ensure that citizens are kept informed of developments in science. It also underscores the role scientists play in broadening our understanding of the planet we call home and in making our societies more sustainable