India Uses Railway as Mobile Science Classroom

June 26,2013

India's railway system is one of the largest and busiest in the world. But it is not just for passengers. The Indian government is utilizing this vast network to provide children in the remotest corners of the country with a moving classroom.

Raghav Pandya loves science, so much so, that he spends six months out of the year on this train to help share his passion with youngsters across India.

“I am passionate about spreading and popularizing awareness regarding scientific knowledge and mechanisms that are surrounding us. People want to know why it is and how it is,” said Pandya.

Pandya is one of 40 postgraduates who make the Science Express train their home as it travels 19,000 kilometers throughout India from April to October of this year.

The train will stop at 62 different locations, including here in the Indian capital, where hundreds of students line up to get their chance to see exhibits focusing on biodiversity, conservation and climate change.

Crowds flock to Science Express

More than 8.5 million people have visited the mobile exhibition - a project that India’s prime minister launched in 2007 to attract young people back to science.

Department of Science and Technology advisor Chander Mohan was tasked with finding a way to reverse what he says was a growing disinterest in the field.