Kerala to Host Asia’s Largest Science Fest with Life Science Exhibits and Interactive Models

Global Science Festival-Kerala (GSFK), Asia's largest science festival, will be held for a duration of two months starting December 2023 in Thiruvananthapuram. The theme of 'Dialogue with Science' is aimed at taking science to the grassroots level.

The festival will have a Curated Science Exhibition and Science Congress for students and scientists. 

The exhibition will house a life-size museum and replica of the HMS Beagle (famous navy ship), an immersive experience of Earth, walk-in of the Universe formation and augmented reality of the influence of science among several other artistically designed 3D models and installations. 

The logo of the GSFK, inspired by Darwin’s theory of evolution was unveiled by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on June 7. The multi-faceted festival will be held on the 20 acres campus of Life Science Park. It has been organised in association with the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE),  Department of Science and Technology, and AMUSEUM, an independent organisation.

IMPROVING SCIENTIFIC TEMPER

The AMUSEUM had proposed the conduct of an international science festival after it held a 'Rally for Science' in November 2016. The event received massive patronage from schools, colleges and science enthusiasts. 

"We submitted a proposal for a science festival but was delayed due to other factors including the COVID-19 pandemic. The KSSP and 'We the People', an organisation of volunteers, held science lectures during the pandemic to create scientific awareness," B Ramesh, the state president of KSSP, told NewsClick. 

The logo of the science festival is inspired by the 'Tree of Life' drawing by Charles Darwin.

Under the helm of AMUSEUM, the organisations have held various events in the last few years. The subsequent programmes led to the conception of the international science festival. The government of Kerala allocated Rs 4 crores in its previous budget for the fest. The KSCSTE will lead the organisational work. 

Unveiling the logo, CM Vijayan wrote on Twitter, "The festival aims to spread scientific temper and envisions turning Thiruvananthapuram as an international science city.” 

MODERN INSTALLATIONS 

The two-month-long festival will be interactive, with the aim of imparting learning experiences to students and the general public. The festival, in the sprawling 20-acre campus, will have interactive installations, a theme-based curated museum, and an immersive experience, among other models. 

"The whole festival would be of interactive nature so that the visitors get the first-hand realistic experience of various evolution theories, major extinctions including that of the dinosaurs – a hybrid experience of what makes us human, along with contour 3D maps of Geology, plate tectonics, and fossil museum presentations," Ramesh said. 

The organisers claimed it would take two days to visit all the exhibits, presentations, and models at the festival. The arrangements for staying in and around the festival venue are planned; it will help in conducting sky-watching for the students.

The festival is set to attract 10 lakh visitors over the two months period. The KSSP plans to hold outreach programs for three months after the announcement is made by the Festival Directorate of the government of Kerala. 

Several exhibits will become part of the permanent science village, while few others will be housed in sponsors of the festival and educational institutions. 

The department of science and technology Kerala will play a key role in the conduct of the festival.