The Board of Innovative Education (BIE), in collaboration with AJ Academy for Research and Development, conducted the Teachers’ Orientation Programme on Nov.15 at Science Centre, Miramar, for Goa’s first-ever research-based Inter-School Science Fair for students of Classes IV to X to come up in January 2026.
Established in 2010, BIE emphasised that this long-awaited science fair aims to nurture scientific thinking among children by encouraging observation, inquiry, experimentation, and problem-solving rather than model-making. Key feature of this orientation programme was its focus on Goa-specific research issues such as coastal erosion, the role of mangroves, water quality, waste management, effects of tourism and mining, and biodiversity challenges which will help students link science with real problems around them and think of solutions that benefit society.
Addressing the gathering, the Secretary Board of Innovative Education Goa, Meenaz Banu, highlighted that the objective is to “bring out the C.V. Raman, Einstein and Newton hidden in our young minds and to build a culture of research in Goa.
Giving the example of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s teacher, Muhammad Abdullah Javed of AJ Academy, said if teachers spark curiosity with sincerity and dedication, they can shape their students into scientists who rise to the world stage. He focused on how Shri Siva SubramaniaIyer, teacher of A.P.J Abdul Kalam, made Kalam a scientist.