A visitor looks at the exhibits on Science Express in Dhanbad. Picture by Gautam Dey

Dhanbad, Jan. 21: Mysteries of the cosmos and future technologies are rolling across the country, and they have stopped here for five days.

These and other scientific wonders are on display on the Science Express — an Indo-German venture comprising 16 coaches aimed at popularising science among high school and college students.

The five-day exhibition on wheels would be in Dhanbad till January 25. It would then go to Hatia before leaving Jharkhand. The exhibition is open from 10am to 5pm and entry is free.

On the coaches are displayed in story formats the cosmos, building blocks of life, gene to organism, the universe, the senses, architecture of mind and renewable energy, among others.

It was flagged off from Safdarjung railway station by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on October 30, 2007. Science Express travelled all over the north and Northeast states before reaching Jharkhand. The train would visit 57 cities and cover 15,000km in 8 months.

Accompanying Science Express are about 50 coach co-ordinators and science communicators from the Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) in Ahmedabad. These people would explain the exhibits to visitors.

Project co-ordinator Ranganatham from VASCSC said: “Anyone with an open mind can see the exhibits and know the fascinating science around us. If anyone is interested and wants more information, he or she can get in touch through emails to VASCSC.”

Max Planck Society of Germany, one of the partners of the project, has developed 12 exhibits on the train. Andreas Klauke, the representative of Max Planck Society, is also travelling on Science Express. Bosch, BASF, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Indian Railways and the department of science and technology are the other agencies behind the project.

Three hundred large format visual images, over 150 video clips and multimedia exhibits promise to hold the visitors’ attention.

Divisional railway manager of Dhanbad Ambrish Gupta, who inaugurated the express, said the administration has been asked to co-ordinate with urban and rural educational institutions to help make the project a “worthwhile experience” for students here.