Activities in general

Srujanika's regular activities fall broadly under the following categories:

1. Development, production and distribution of resource materials - publications and other softwares.
2. Orientation of resource persons as well as providing academic support for them.
3. Interactive programmes like camps, workshops and discussions forchildren and adults.

Bigyan Tarang:

The publication of Bigyan Tarang, a resource periodical in Oriya, has been our longest running venture. It has now grown to play a link role central to all our activities. Besides presenting science with a very broad perspective, linking it with education and the society, it acts as a vehicle for our programmes and for feedback from its users. In addition to the magazine issues, various topical booklets and full-length books are also brought out as special releases in the Bigyan Tarang series.

Bigyan Tarang was launched in 1989 as a means to an end rather than an end in itself. This end is to develop an excitement about science and to further one's inquisitive and creative instincts through appropriate reading and activity. Therefore, formation of reader-groups, often named Tarang Clubs, around the state were taken up as an essential extension programme through correspondence and personal contacts.

One important aspect of Bigyan Tarang has been its hands-on activity features. This is supplemented by the distribution of low-cost science toys and kits by Srujanika to help the curious and interested in experiencing the excitement of seeing things work. For many these toys also play a role in creating an interest in classroom science teaching.

Toys, Kits and Books:

Such interest in science, either created or enhanced, is further developed through discussions and personal interactions. For this we use a variety of other softwares, such as, posters, slides, models and books. While some of these are developed by us for specific programmes, many are procured from other sources and suitably modified where necessary.

Some of these are magnifiers and low cost microscopes of various powers, magnets of different shapes and sizes, magnet based toys like low-voltage DC motor, rolling armature, lenses and other optics materials, accessories for sky watching - star dial, night sky charts, planet finder, astronomical telescope etc. Some of the kits/packages available are useful for nature study, primay and pre-primary education, sky-watching, science club activities at the high school stage.

Distribution of books chosen from among the available ones play an important role in sensitising the adult associates. We have also been writing/adapting important books for established publishers. This effort helps to get a wider circulation of such books without burdening us financially and workwise, rather it helps us in generating funds. The sale of science toys and other softwares also help us in establishing new contacts in totally unknown areas and in raising a part of our operating costs too.

The Sunday Club:

The sunday club at our campus forms another regular activity involving the local village children. They help us in trying out new activity ideas and play host to all visitors during camps and workshops. This also provides a ready model for those interested in taking up similar work who are encouraged to visit us on sundays. The children enjoy their own library, science-fun corner, play-lot etc. which are run practically at no cost. In the process, we get a better chance to convince the visiting adults towards replicating such efforts at their own places.

Interaction Programmes:

With the local sunday club as a model and Bigyan Tarang and other softwares as link materials, we have been attempting to initiate such activities around the state. To reach out to the prospective adults who are keen to associate themselves in this work we take up periodical interaction programmes like seminars, teachers' workshops, expositions and children's camps etc. at various places during the year. These serve to get new persons involved and old contacts strengthened, while demonstrating first-hand to the local community newer, enjoyable and low-cost approaches to science and learning.

These interaction programmes are broadly of the following types.
1. Field programmes directly organised by us, with the help of our local contacts, as a part of sponsored projects or on our own,
2. Participation, on invitation or on our own initiative, in events organised by others with approaches similar to ours,
3. Undertaking orientation/training programmes on science and primary education for specific groups.

Keeping in Touch:

One of the most important pieces of regular work is correspondence which we find very enjoyable. The letters received by us from children and adults, almost in equal proportions, are taken seriously as the best evaluation of our work and as guides for future. All are replied to and many are discussed in Bigyan Tarang.