Inauguration of Mirror Gallery and Innovation Hub comes with Fun and Learning for City Students

Inauguration of Mirror Gallery and Innovation Hub comes with Fun and Learning for City Students

Bhubaneswarites have been treated to the much awaited mirror gallery as well as Innovation Hub at the Regional Science Centre (RSC) which provides a blend of fun and learning to students.

The inauguration of the new gallery, which took place on Wednesday, would provide an opportunity to young students to explore various interesting aspects of mirrors while the innovation hub will let them explore their innovative skills.

Governor Ganesh Lal expressed his pleasure at the inaugural of the mirror gallery and said, “Exhorting young minds to come up with ideas to innovate something and utilise the innovation hub can make it a good facilitator.” Other special attractions included inauguration of a 20 feet giant water tap at Science Park and pebble art.

Around Rs 2.5 crore has been invested for the construction and development of the innovation hub and mirror gallery. Apart from the 23 interactive exhibits on education and entertainment, the gallery includes Mirror Maze (Bhulbhuliya), Mirror Magic, fun mirror, infinite train on mirror, cone mirror, concave and convex mirrors among others.

The mirror gallery presents a variety of magical effects on images created by mirrors including their formation, processing and perception with a sneak peek into the special visual effects created by different combinations of mirrors.

When one reaches the entrance of the gallery, a ‘Self Centred Mirror’ which produces multiple moving images of a person as one passes in front of it, welcomes the visitors. Similarly, another exhibit named ‘Curving Tunnel’ where people would try to peep in, only to find it to be an image, is also equally amusing. But, the most sought after of all is the ‘Mirror Magic’, where the existing picture vanishes in presence of a person and turns into a mirror.  

“All the exhibits have been designed by experts. Mirror Maze (Bhulbhuliya) will be the most interesting exhibit which, we believe, would attract more students and visitors, “said Amit Kumar Mandal, incharge of RSC.

The Innovation Hub has been created by National Council of Science Museums in association with National Innovation Council to engage the youth in innovative and creative activities. Mandal said, “The Innovation Hub will provide facilities to nurture new ideas and help develop inquisitiveness in youths. It would also serve as springboards for new ideas and innovation thus, helping the society and economy.”

The Innovation Hub will have a Discovery Hall, Innovation Resource Centre and Hall of Fame, Idea Lab, Thod Phod Jod (Break & Remake) Corner, Kabad Se Jugad (Build from scraps), Idea Box, Design Studio among others. “The Discovery Hall houses 10 to 15 interactive science exhibits and experiments to generate excitement about science through exploration and discovery of its underlying principles to promote logical thinking,” he shared.

Similarly, the Innovation Resource Centre and Hall of Fame will showcase innovative ideas/products/implements that have transformed the world or have made significant impact. Stories or inspirations behind such innovations/inventions have been showcased as well. Besides these, implements/ samples of appropriate technology and traditional knowledge systems, art and craft and other areas of importance in public life in the respective regions have also been exhibited.

The Idea Lab is equipped with basic facilities to pursue creative and innovative hobbies/activities that involve model making, basic science experimentation, design and fabrication of useful gadgets of practical use, teaching/learning kits or aids for better classroom activities, testing of samples like soil, water, food items among others. It will also facilitate students to generate their own innovative ideas and create an idea bank. The best ideas will be chosen for experimentation/model making/project work. 

Similarly, the Design Studio will facilitate designing of various objects products.

While in Thod Phod Jod (Break & Remake) Corner, students would learn to dismantle, reassemble and remake devices/gadgets, in the Kabad Se Jugad (Build from scraps) corner, students would learn to make things using day to day scrap.

The Innovation Hub can be availed by anyone. “We are going to distribute pamphlets with a form for the participants to fill up and submit for membership. Anyone can avail the facility at the Innovation centre provided they possess a scientific inclination ” said Amit.

Baisakhi Sethy, a student of Class X, Government Girls High school, seemed impressed with the Mirror Gallery, “I liked the Mirror Gallery the most. It was interesting to see my images in so many different forms. I also liked the talking robot in the Innovation Hub.”