Bhubaneswar, Oct. 7: Here’s an opportunity for students to flaunt their filmmaking skills with a sprinkling of science and technology. Special entries at the second Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela (RVCM-2011) could win you instant fame and a cash prize of Rs 30,000. The festival, hosted by Vigyan Prasar, a national institute for science and technology communication under the science and technology department, government of India, is scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar during the 99th Indian Science Congress from January 3 to 7.

Applications are open under three categories – popular science films, animation films and short films on the subject of science and technology – till November 11.

The national science film festival and competition is being held to felicitate, recognise and encourage science film producers and production of films and videos related to science and technology. “Films and videos which are adjudged outstanding would be given the Golden Beaver and Silver Beaver awards in the three categories,” said Anuj Sinha, director of Vigyan Prashar.

He said the Golden Beaver award winner would receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh while the Silver Beaver award winner would get Rs 50,000. Both would also be given trophies and certificates. Apart from these, there is a special jury award that carries a cash prize of Rs 40,000.

Earlier, a teachers’ training programme on the 19th session of the National Children’s Science Congress was organised at BJEM School. Here, over 100 teachers from various schools in the capital were trained on how to prepare projects on the theme “Land Resources – Use for prosperity, save for posterity”. The programme was facilitated by the National Council of Science and Technology Communications, department of science and technology.

This year, the Children’s Science Congress will be held in Rajasthan from December 27 to 31. Children between 10 and 17 years participate in this event and are divided into smaller groups. They prepare an outline of their project, conduct experiments and surveys to find solutions to local problems. The projects are evaluated by a panel of experts and if selected, it gains entry into the state level.

A total of 26 projects will be selected from Orissa at the national level and finally, only two from each state will be presented at the Indian Science Congress in January.