Jorhat, Jan. 7: The Jorhat Science Centre and Planetarium has planned yearlong activities to inculcate a scientific temper among students and common people.

The centre, the only of its kind in Upper Assam, was established on July 6, 2013, to develop scientific temperament among people in general and youths in particular. Schools of Upper Assam districts often bring children to the science centre-cum-planetarium as part of educational tours.

Curator of the centre, Pranabjyoti Chetia, told this correspondent that it has drawn up a plan to undertake a series of programmes with an aim to contribute to the conservation of environment to make the planet a better and safe (health-wise) place for all.

Chetia said activities would be carried out under the theme Clean and Green for Health and Hygiene. 'We want to disseminate knowledge by giving scientific explanations to society to change some of their daily habits in order to keep our planet safe and help in making it greener.'

Chetia, a PhD in physics, said the centre has a moral responsibility in bringing awareness to change habits for a better future, for which cleanliness and conservation of the nature were indispensable.

Chetia said with the centre turning out to be a favourite place for people to visit, an awareness drive through live and recorded audio messages in English and Assamese will be launched soon.

The curator said health tips to prevent water-borne, vector-borne, airborne and other diseases, appeal to wash hands before meals, tips on sanitation and hygiene, saying no to plastics, requesting to plant saplings in people's homes or in the neighbourhood will be played through loudspeakers while the visitors go through the various sections of the centre.

Chetia said to make the initiative interesting and participatory, visitors, especially youths, will be requested to read out such messages using the sound system.

A park with scientific models would be put up as well.

He said slogan writing (in English and Assamese) on the theme, open to all age groups, would be organised. A box will be kept where people could put their entries while those outside Jorhat could mail them through posts.

The top three slogans will be selected and the winners will be given certificates along with a prize and their names written on banners and posters that will be put up at the centre and in several busy areas of the town.

He said another initiative will be to visit schools and residential areas, where apart from organising awareness meetings, the staff of the centre will clean up areas and plant saplings at least two to three times.

'Cleanliness and plantation drives have been carried out and being continued near the centre by involving students of nearby Balya Bhavan School and staff of the inspectors of schools' office,' Chetia said.