The Science Express, which is on an all-India tour to create awareness on biodiversity and climate change among all age groups, arrived here on Tuesday from Kharagpur after touching 28 destinations. The train is scheduled to arrive at a total of 62 stations across the country and will halt at the Baleswar Station for three days.
The exhibition in the train was inaugurated jointly by district Collector Ranjit Mohanty and senior scientist and Additional Director of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) Dr Binay Kumar Das.
The special train, which began its journey from April 9 last after being fagged off at the Safdarjung station in New Delhi, would calumniate its journey on October 28 next in Gandhinagar. It has been developed under the initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
Out of 16 AC coaches, eight are solely dedicated to showcasing the myriad diversity spread across the bio geographical zones of India which include the trans Himalayas and the Himalayas, the Gangetic plains, north east India, the desert and semi- arid zone, the Western Ghats, the Deccan peninsula, the coasts and the islands.
The dedicated coaches highlight critically endangered species, bio diversity hotspots, domesticated bio diversity, livelihood, bio culture threats and challenges, conservation measures, success and unique stories.
Apart from these displays, a student can perform various activities and experiments to understand the concept in environment, science and mathematics in an interesting manner. More so, a discussion cum training facility is also provided for the orientation of the teachers.