Madras Varsity to nurture science talent by offering scholarships worth Rs 10 lakh

Chennai:

In a bid to nurture young research scholars in science, Madras University on Wednesday vowed to offer scholarships worth Rs 10 lakh for 100 students.

Addressing the inaugural function of Inspire Internship Camp 2011, Madras University vice-chancellor Col Dr G Thiruvasagam said that the university will offer scholarships worth Rs 10 lakh to students who wish to take up research in science in Madras University.

The department of Science and Technology launched Innovation in Science pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme for to attract students to take up science as career and to become scientist.

M Suresh Gandhi, coordinator of the camp, said currently the camp is focusing on Scheme for Early Attraction of Talent for Science in the age group of 16-17 years. “We have selected 150 students from 18 city-schools based on their percentage of marks secured at X standard and who are pursuing science at XII standard. They are part of 50,000 studentswho have been selected for the year annually,” he added.

“The students will be given an exposure to interact with eminent scientists in the summer and winter camps to experience the joy of innovation, Gandhi said.

The basic objective of INSPIRE is to communicate to the youth of the country the excitements of creative pursuit of science, attract talent to the study of science at an early age and build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding science and technology and research and development base.

Prof T J Pandian, a winner if Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar award, and commissioner of museums S S Jawahar also spoke on the occasion.