| Home | DNA CLUBS IN GUJARAT |
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| DNA CLUBS IN GUJARAT |
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| Department of Biotechnology’s Natural resource Awareness Club |
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| They may be tomorrow’s environmentalists...scientists...because they are engaged with nature activities.....studying on the water and soil quality of the nearest water bodies; raising voice against pollution at wetlands, learning about the migratory birds of this state, interacting with the wildlife species at different national park and sanctuaries, walking on the surface of coral bed at Marine National Park, and so on… |
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| There is a great deal of activities and without any hesitation all the 600 students of 10 DNA Club Schools in 25 districts of State are flourishing with new knowledge of environment and wondering with the rich bioresources and biodiversity of the state. |
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| It is a worthy and ‘dream come true’ project namely “DNA Club” (Department of Biotechnology’s Natural resource Awareness Club), launched since September 2007 through Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad. The project is a part of national level activities being initiated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. |
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| DBT has identified and recognized Gujarat Science City as one of the Regional Resource Agency (RRA) to coordinate the DNA Club activities among the school children in the state. This is a unique programme for secondary school students to learn and explore about nature and its natural resources and intends to bring interest, excitement and lots of educational value, which they might not have experienced, in their school life. |
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| Location of DNA Clubs |
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| Gujarat has 25 districts. Each DNA Club is located between three districts of the state. Hence, each DNA Club is putting the effort to spread the principle and concept of this programme to all three districts and this way whole state. In detail they are: |
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| 1 | Bai Avabai High School, Valsad (Districts: Valsad, Navsari & Dang) | | 2 | B.A.B.S. High School, Bardoli, Surat (Districts: Surat, Bharuch & Narmada) | | 3 | Shreyas Vidyalaya, Baroda, Vadodara (Districts: Vadodara& Anand) | | 4 | St. Arnold’s High School, Panchmahal, Godhra (Districts: Dahod, Panchmahal & Kheda) | | 5 | Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Gandhinagar (Districts: Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar & Mehsana) | | 6 | Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Banaskantha (Districts: Sabarkantha & Banaskantha) | | 7 | Sir J High School & K.B. Shah Higher Secondary School, Limbdi (Districts: Patan & Surendranagar) | | 8 | Kamani Forward High School, Amreli (Districts: Bhavnagar, Amreli & Rajkot) | | 9 | Shri Kanya Vidya Mandir, Joshipura, Junagadh (Districts: Junagadh, Jamnagar & Porbander) | | 10 | Shree Matruchhaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Bhuj (Districts: Kutchh & Bhuj) | |
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| DNA Clubs in India |
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| For effective implementation and coordination of the DNA club activities, DBT has identified Regional Resource Agencies (RRA) who would in turn be responsible for setting up DNA clubs in different schools of the identified regions. There are eight regional resource agencies (RRA) identified to implement the DNA Club Activities. The selected RRAs are located at Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Allahabad (U.P.), Rajouri (J&K), Pune (Maharasthra), New Delhi, Chennai (T.N), Imphal (Manipur) and Guwahati (Assam). Each of the RRA has taken the responsibility of establishing appropriate number of DNA Clubs in their respective regions. As such there would be 150 odd DNA Clubs across the country. Gujarat Science City has been selected as one of the RRA for the activities and to set 10 such DNA clubs in the state of Gujarat. |
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| In India, there are about 640 DNA Clubs being coordinated by respective RRAs. The club activities and performance has been reviewed by the Programme Monitoring Unit (PMU) set by DBT, India. |
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| Club Activities |
| | Weekly DNA Club activity | | | Interschool activity | | | Assignments/ projects on current topics | | | Lecture series/ debates on current environmental problems | | | Celebration of scientific days | | | Quiz/ Elocution competition | | | Walkthrough to nearby parks and wetlands to study about local biodiversity | | | Natural laboratory experiments | | | Study on ethology or animal behaviour | | | Hands-on activities | | | Taking measures to restoring a balanced ecosystem and giving awareness | |
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| RRA Activities |
| | Sensitization of school, community and media on DNA club activities | | | Orientation Programme for Teachers and Club members | | | Monitoring the DNA Club activities | | | Generation of Resource materials for DNA clubs | | | Identification of Resource Persons and coordinating their programmes in DNA Clubs | | | Organization of Vacation Training Programme on Bioresources | | | Bioresource Project Work Competition | | | Best DNA Club Activity Competition | | | Annual DNA Club Festival | | | Documentation of DNA Club activities and reporting to DBT | |
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| Vacation Training Program (VTP) |
| As a part of DNA Club activities, GCSC organizes a four week Vacation Training Program (VTP) on Bioresources for school children. The programme is designed in such a way to focus on understanding the importance of bioresources, their sustainable use and conservation. Participants are also encouraged to interact with eminent scientists, work on small research projects, visit important bioresources places, interviewing people and writing investigative reports |
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| Eligibility of participation: |
| 30 students who have appeared the class X exam this year and awaiting their result are selected on the basis of their merit during the vacation. |
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| Impacts of DNA Clubs |
| | As environmental education connects classroom learning the real world, it improved students achievement in science | | | All students are getting the opportunity to learn at a higher level | | | Students developed the ability to transfer their knowledge from familiar to unfamiliar contexts | | | Class room management and discipline problem decline | | | Increased enthusiasm and learning of students | |
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| Schools/ Students who are interested to be a part of the DNA Club Programme may ty, the Regional Resource Agency for more details. |
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| Contact Address for more information |
Dr. Narottam Sahoo
Project Co-ordinator
RRA-DNA Club Project
Gujarat Council of Science City,
Department of Science & Technology
Science City Road, Ahmedabad 380060
Ph: 079-65222127/128, Fax: 098980 29617
E-mail: narottam.sahoo@gmail.com Web: www.scity.org |