More than three hundred school students and teachers participated in the event hosted by the Institute
To mark the birth anniversary of the eminent mathematician Srinivas Ramanujan, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi through its Center for Continuing Education, celebrated the National Mathematics Day 2022 at the campus in collaboration with Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE). More than three hundred school students from 6th to 12th Class and teachers participated in the celebration. Mr. Satpal Dhiman, Additional Secretary, Environment Science and Technology, and Joint Member Secretary, HIMCOSTE, graced the event as the Chief Guest.
The main idea of such programs is to instil scientific temperament among students and teachers and to create awareness among them to communicate these subjects in an easy and interesting manner to the students.
Addressing the students, Chief Guest Mr. Satpal Dhiman, Additional Secretary, Environment Science and Technology, and Joint Member Secretary, HIMCOSTE, said, “Posters prepared by the School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences are very informative and needs to be circulated to all the schools in the state. Many of them depicts the journey and history of mathematics in India. Like the great Indian Mathematician Srinivas Ramanujam, the students should also identify their passion, work hard and nothing shall remain unachievable to them.”
HIMCOSTE organizes such programs in all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh from 22nd December to 28th February on Mathematics Day and Science Day every year to popularize the subjects Mathematics and Science among teachers and students all over the state.
While giving a lecture on Mathematics, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi, said, “Georg Cantor and David Hilbert, the two mathematicians from west have done a lot of research on infinity even before infinity was not considered a mathematical object. But in India Mathematics was way more advanced in the Vedic times in Vedanta Mathematics Infinity is called Anant and Achintya.
Further Prof. Behera added, “Knowledge is beyond the boundaries of race, caste, creed, gender, or nationality and is universal.”
HIMCOSTE also conducts Himachal Pradesh Children’s Science Congress every year for students at different levels i.e., Block level, District level, and State level. About 25000 students from 5000 different schools from all over the state participate in it.
IIT Mandi proudly collaborated with HIMCOSTE to host the event and provide exposure to the school students in the field of Science and Mathematics at an early stage. The event also included interesting brainteasers and quizzes for the students.