A DAY AT KUMIRMARI HIGH SCHOOL, SUNDARBANS, SOUTH 24 PARAGANAS, WEST BENGAL, INDIA on 2nd MARCH, 2019 “EXPLORING THE MICROCOSMOS”

Punarbasu | Mon, Mar 11, 2019, 6:07 AM

On 2 ^nd March, 2019, Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta , organized a workshop “ Magnify Your curiosity-Explore The Microcosmos With Foldscope” at Kumirmari High School, Sundarbans, South 24 Paraganas, West Bengal, India.

The workshop was organized with an aim that the students of class 8,9 and 10, Studying in Kumirmari High school located in Sundarbans, who have seen microscope just as pictures in the pages of their books could explore the microscopic world with the help of the Paper microscope-THE FOLDSCOPE.

Kumirmari track — Map showing route track from Calcutta University to Kumirmari High School

IMG_20190302_112034 (2) — KUMIRMARI HIGH SCHOOL, SUNDARBANS, SOUTH 24-PARAGANAS, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

I NTRODUCTION SESSION

The workshop started with an introductory speech of Dr. Punarbasu Chaudhuri, Assistant Professor of Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta. He demonstrated the working principle of foldscope and its diverse application. It was followed by demonstration session of foldscope.

Dr. Punarbasu Chaudhuri conducting the introductory session of foldscope

DEMONSTRATION SESSION

This session started with exposure of students with the foldscope.The intact origami paper was shown to the students and then when this paper was folded in proper scientific specifications, it becomes a paper microscope- The foldscope. Then permanent slides of pollen grains of different species of Indian mangrove floras, transverse section (T.S) of kidney, lungs, Thyroid glands, algae, mucor, human blood smear, peels of onion cells were observed under foldscope and demonstrated to the students.

Permanent sample slides of floral species observed under Foldscope were being shown

IMG_20190302_124623 — Transverse section of kidney observed under Foldscope

Demonstrating the observation technique under Foldscope to the enthusiastic students

Students attending a demonstration on Foldscope handling by Dipmala Das (member of the foldscope team)

HANDS-ON SESSION

The demonstration session was followed by the a hands-on session of slide preparation and were observed under Folscope.

For the slide preparation, the fresh flowers were collected from the adjacent locality of Kumirmari and then a single anther is selected from the flower and suspended on a drop of UV curable adhesive, covered with a coverslip, and sealed. Then the prepared slide was sun-dried and observed under Foldscope.

newDSC06044 — Slide preparation technique shown by Dipmala Das

Students preparing slides to be observed under foldscope

CERTIFICATE DISTRIBUTION

The workshop was concluded by the distribution of certificate of participation to the students of Kumirmari High School

CONCLUSION

The students of Kumirmari High School who were exposed to microscopic world for the first time with help of foldscope.were all enthusiastic and curious to explore the microscopic world. With this workshop we were able to built the curiosity and interest in the students to explore the invisible world and thus the workshop was a great success.