‘Manthan Narmada Lok Vigyaan Kendra’, a community science centre is a programme initiated by Manthan aimed towards spreading science awareness amongst rural and tribal communities. Situated in the Narmada district of Gujarat state with a massive tribal belt, the centre is supported by GUJCOST under the Government of Gujarat.It conducts about 300 activities per year that emphasize hands on approach. The activities cover topics like astronomy, sky observation and use science posters, and science workshops, featuring interactive exhibits that encourage children to learn and explore more. There are a number of programmes like Sunday schools, tuitions, demonstrations, learning science while playing thorough which are organized at the centre to engage the children around. 40,000 children have benefited through this initiative. The centre has received recognition on a state as well as the national level.

Apart from such activities, the science centre also conductsawareness programmes on gender equality, climate change, pollution control and the understanding of biodiversity, human evolution and dispensing superstition. The material developed is customized to the unique geography and culture of the place.The team members visit all the 4 blocks of Narmada district to conduct different activities on a regular basis. All these activities are also promoted in the district’s 75 registered schools. The outreach work conducted by the museum also generates employment among the locals.

 Vigyan Ganga

Literally meaning the river of science, this is a mobile science van supported by the Jilla Vahivati Tantra(District AdministrationCentre), Narmada district. It’s an effort to link science textbook curriculum to everyday life. The aim is to make science more approachable so that students don’t see it as a challenging subject but as an interesting way of understanding their environs. The van travels everyday and covers 30 schools in a month. The van is accompanied by a science communicator who helps students with the various displays inside the van. He/she also conducts small workshops. Currently the van displays a small projection screen, space to store outreach material, a few models and a science exhibition, which also changes from time to time. We use the van to also spread information on agriculture, which is useful to the community. The greatest benefit of the van is that the material developed by Manthan is continuously reaching out to more people.