Science Express: A learning trip

Ritwick Sinha

Class-VI,

Don Bosco Sr. Sec. School, Guwahati

Science Express Biodiversity Special

Science Express --- Biodiversity Special is a unique and innovative mobile science exhibition which was inaugurated on 5^th June, 2012. It is a specially-designed 16-coach AC Train which started travelling to 52 locations across India from 5^th June and will conclude its journey on 22^nd December, 2012.

I visited the Science Express on 25^th June at the Kamakhya Railway Station, Guwahati, Assam. The main theme of the Science Express was Biodiversity and Climate Change. In the first coach, I saw different models and samples of different kinds of animals and got some information about their habitats. I also got information about micro-organisms. The second coach was mainly on the Trans-Himalaya and the Himalayas. There, I gathered information about the places, animals, birds and plants located in the Himalayas. I also gathered information about the lifestyle of the people living there and the type of climate in the Himalayas. The third coach was mainly on the Gangetic Plain. There, I gathered information about the places and the kinds of flora and fauna found in the Gangetic Plain. I also learnt that the Ganga river provides many benefits to the people, plants, animals and birds living in the Gangetic Plain. The fourth coach was about North East India. In this coach, I got information about all the seven sisters of North East India and the type of flora and fauna found there. The next coach was mainly on the Desert and Semi-Arid Zone. I gathered information about Rajasthan and Gujarat. I learnt about the type of animals, plants and birds found there and also learnt about the culture of Rajasthan. There were many models describing the culture of Rajasthan. The sixth coach was mainly on the Western Ghats. It was very interesting. The seventh coach was mainly on the Deccan Peninsula. In this coach, I gathered information about the types of soil and vegetation found in the Deccan Peninsula. The next coach was mainly about the Coasts and Islands. I saw different kinds of models and samples in this coach. Information was also given about them. The ninth coach was mainly on Climate Change. In this coach, I got a lot of information about how to save our planet earth. I also learnt that global warming is causing a lot of harm to our environment and if global warming keeps on increasing, the ice at the poles will melt and the low-lying countries will get submerged under the water. This coach was really interesting. Coach No. 13 had facilities for training of teachers on Environment Education. In another coach, students could participate in the Joy of Science (JOS) Lab. I participated in the Joy of Science Lab and had a great experience in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics in the lab. The Science Express -- Biodiversity Special team explained everything very lucidly. It was my best experience ever in the Science Express -- Biodiversity Special.