Samiksha from Prabhat Tara Balika Uccha Vidyalaya, Muzaffarpur, speaks on the topic at the state-level seminar at Shrikrishna Science Centre in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Aug. 25: Samiksha, a Class X student of Prabhat Tara Balika Uccha Vidyalaya, Muzaffarpur, has done her school proud. For, she is on her way to represent the state at National Science Seminar on September 30.

The Class X student clinched her right to represent Bihar at the annual seminar today at the state-level science seminar on “Chemistry for human welfare: promises and concerns” at Shrikrishna Science Centre. She had to battle 17 other students for the feat. She won the first prize in the senior category.

The students came to the state capital after winning their respective divisional-level science seminars.

Samiksha told The Telegraph: “I was eager to win this competition. The most exciting part is I have a chance to win the scholarship and meet scientists at the National Science Seminar in Delhi.”

The seminar organised by National Council of Science Museums, Union ministry of culture, will be held at National Science Centre in New Delhi.

Of participants from 35 state and Union territories, 10 winners will be selected at the national seminar. The winners would get a scholarship and a chance to meet famous Indian scientists and visit big industries.

Project co-ordinator of Shrikrishna Science Centre Anurag Kumar said: “The student who will win the national seminar will get an annual scholarship of Rs 2,000 for two consecutive years. The remaining nine will receive an annual scholarship of Rs 1,000 for two consecutive years. The National Science Seminar is organised every year to cultivate an interest for scientific research among students and motivate them for an in-depth study of the subject.”

At the state-level seminar today while Samiksha won in the senior category, Nivedita, a Class VIII student from the same school, won in the junior category.

The seminar was jointly organised by State Council Educational Research and Training and Shrikrishna Science Centre.

Kumar said: “This seminar has been organised to instil a creative and analytical approach in students towards science. Participants at today’s event came out with flying colours. They had to go through a preliminary objective test on today’s topic — ‘Chemistry for human welfare: promises and concerns’ — and then talk on the topic for six minutes. After a round of questions, the first, second and third winners were adjudged.”

Meanwhile, the principal secretary of the state human resource development department, Anjani Kumar Singh, the chief guest at today’s event, disclosed the state government’s plan to organise Shiksha Divas on November 11-12 at Gandhi Maidan. Singh said: “Science has been made the theme of the event, where teachers would give presentations on way they impart education to their students. Teachers and PhD students would also be given a platform to present their research work during the event. The best 100 research projects will be selected for this. We are also thinking of organising a quiz contest.”

Singh said Bihar will also host the Jawaharlal Nehru National Science Exhibition during Shiksha Divas. At the exhibition, Singh said: “Students would not only get an opportunity to take part in the exhibition but would also acquaint themselves with the projects of other talented students who will come to attend the annual exhibition from all over the country. We are very excited about this.”

The national-level exhibition aims to cultivate talents in students through models on science and technology.