The Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday announced three initiatives to boost innovation, awareness and science in the north-eastern states, with a floating laboratory on the Brahmaputra being one of them.Union Science Minister Harsh Vardhan and senior scientists from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) said the two-storied barge with other small barges or mobile labs in the tributaries will be rolled out this December.<\/p>\n
Through a wide-mandate of observations, research and development, the barge\u2014Brahmaputra Biodiversity Biology Boat (B4) — will study the climate change and conduct the biological analysis of the river.<\/p>\n
The laboratory will have capability to analyse soil, water, environment, plant and animal life, human health and agriculture. IIT-Guwahati is the nodal agency of the programme.<\/p>\n
Multiple other small boat labs or satellite barges in the tributaries of the river will also connect local research institutions along the river and will occasionally give access to the local community to see the bio-diversity from a scientific angle.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo major river for this size had been studied in this particular region. In future, such projects would be connected with other similar projects in the country,\u201d said Harsh Vardhan.<\/p>\n
The first floating lab will cover the region from Pasighat, Dibrugarh, Neemati, Tejpur and Guwahati in Assam.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the ministry will be distributing Foldoscope\u2014a paper made microscope\u2014in over 500 schools, colleges and among citizen scientists around the nation with focus on North-Eastern states. It will also hold residency training of the students from main-land in the schools situated in north-eastern states.<\/p>\n
The Foldoscope costs less than a dollar and can be easily assembled to help the \u2018young minds\u2019 explore the microscopic world. Another powerful Foldpscope with a kit will also be available as an option at a subsidised cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will provide these microscope free of cost in all those schools which had applied,\u201d K. VijayRaghavan, secretary DBT said.<\/p>\n
\u201cScience comes across all regional languages and other barriers as long as they are looking at a common scientific perspective, we all can have joy of working together,\u201d VijayRaghavan said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a separate Pytho-Pharma project to boost cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants in North East states is also being launched at cost of Rs50 crore.<\/p>\n
IANS<\/p>\n
Picture courtesy: Alamy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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