Siliguri, Jan. 29: The 29th Eastern India Science Fair is all set to start here from February 4. This will be the town’s first brush with the fun-filled science fair, the theme of which will be Science and Technology in the Changing World.

State urban development minister and chairman of the organising committee Asok Bhattacharya announced the date and details of the Eastern India Science Fair today at North Bengal Science Centre, which will serve as the venue for the meet.

“This is the first time that the Eastern India Science Fair is being organised in Siliguri from February 4 to 8. Around 400 participants from 12 states of eastern India, including the northeastern states, will take part in the fair. The contestants have been selected at state-level science meets in their own states,” said Bhattacharya at a news conference.

Besides the main theme, there will be categories like food and health, energy, information technology, industry, transport and communication and biotechnology. Students from Classes V to XII will represent their states and display models highlighting the basic needs and problems of the society, and possible practical solutions to them. Along with model display, there will be experience camps on electronics, life science, silk-screen printing and photography, the organisers said.

“Bikash Sinha, director of Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre and director of Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, will be present on the inaugural day. Smart Goswami, director of Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, and Ingit Mukherjee, director-general of National Council for Science Museum, will also be present,” Bhattacharya said.

“Attractive scholarships and prizes will be given to the successful candidates under best individual exhibit, best team exhibit and best state exhibit categories. The guide teachers of the winning participants will also be awarded,” he added.