The 13th session of the practical science workshop “Khelte Khelte Bigyan” organized by Maksudul Alam Science Laboratory (MASLab) has ended. This workshop was organized with the students of 6th to 9th grades. While handing over the certificates to the participating students at the end of the workshop yesterday, Dr. Mustak Ibn Ayub, Assistant Professor of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Department of Dhaka University encouraged and appreciated the students.
At this time, he mentioned, “In the future world, nations which are advanced in science will be more advanced. So there is no alternative to hands-on practicing of scientific experiments”. Dr. Mustak also expressed his special gratitude to the parents of the students who participated in the workshop and inspired them to contribute to the improvement of science.
Tamanna Akhter Ima, a student of Riverview Cantonment Board School, who participated in the workshop and expressed her excitement about working in a science lab for the first time in her life; she said, “Learning hands-on science subjects, especially the use of microscopes, here at MSLab will keep me ahead in my school curriculum.”
In this 5 day long workshop, students learned to measure different objects by hand. Made circuits and learned about resistance, reflection and refraction of light, Acid-base titration with indicator by preparing solution. They learnt to use microscope and observe different slides. Checked their blood pressure. Besides learning about simple and electron microscopes, they observed the cells of the onion cuticle and its plasmolysis. There were also osmosis tests, learnt how to use stethoscope and sphygmomanometer, various theoretical concepts of chemistry along with light experiments and various practical materials were introduced.
Besides, with the help of screw gauges, slide calipers and spherometers, distances, radii and radii of curvature between various objects were shown. After that they were divided into different groups and some hands-on experiments were done. On the last day, after the evaluation test, certificates were handed over to all of them. MASLAB schools work with students from different parts of the country to train college students in science research.
Regarding the workshop, Farzana Akhter Lima, Lab Supervisor of MASLab, said, “The main purpose of the establishment of this lab named after the late Bangladeshi geneticist Maksudul Alam is to allow and make an opportunity for students to learn hands-on science along with the curriculum. All those who are interested in science can participate in various programs of MASLab. In this context, she also informed about organizing a camp in memory of scientist Maksudul Alam from the second week of this December.
Since 2018, Maksudul Alam Science Laboratory (MASLab) has organized the workshop continuously every year. Now the MASLab has been redecorated with well-furnished shelves, sitting tables, microscopes, AC, and everything. And, finally, the workshop started offline in the month of Victory, instead of an online event. This workshop is mainly for 6th to 8th-grade students, where they can do hands-on science topics. Currently, there is a set-up of 12 students in the lab but the equipment is much less in that ratio. The entrepreneurs hope that they will soon be able to solve this problem and keep the lab open for students with everyone’s cooperation.