[bioundgrd] Fwd: Low-cost science experiment workshop and competition

[Janice Chang]

>From: Mihir Sarkar <mihir at media.mit.edu>
>Subject: Low-cost science experiment workshop and competition
>Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 18:09:43 -0500
>
>
>Dear administrator,
>
>Could you kindly forward the announcement below to students in your 
>department.
>
>Thanks,
>Mihir
>
>President, India Initiatives
>MIT Media Lab
>+1 (617) 253-0619
>mihir at media.mit.edu
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>
>Make a difference during your IAP and win a trip to India!
>
>The Media Lab's India Initiatives, along with UST Global and Agastya 
>International Foundation, is hosting a competition for students to 
>build the best low-cost science experiment apparatus.
>
>Underprivileged children throughout rural India rarely have the 
>opportunity to learn about science and the properties of nature. The 
>goal of the competition is to build the best science experiment 
>apparatus that conveys any aspect of science (physics, chemistry, 
>etc.), is low cost, can be built with minimal skills, and is made up 
>of resources usually found in any rural village in India. Each team 
>of two students will be advised by somebody on the ground in India, 
>working in schools, and who has intimate knowledge of the unique 
>challenges of the environment. A panel of distinguished judges (MIT 
>professors, NGO and industry leaders, and MIT alumni) will assess 
>your prototype and select the best one. The winning team will be 
>offered an all expenses paid trip to India, sponsored by UST Global, 
>to deploy their science experiment apparatus in a school. The 
>competition requires 3 mandatory sessions during IAP where you'll 
>have the opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities 
>in India. The workshop is open to all within the MIT community, but 
>only registered MIT students will be eligible to participate in the 
>competition. Feel free to form teams before the first meeting, or 
>come to the first session and find a partner there.
>
>Coordinated by Mihir Sarkar, Vinay Gidwaney, and guests.
>
>WHAT: Low-Cost Science Experiment Workshop & Competition
>WHEN: Wed., Jan 13, 20, 27: 10am-12:00pm (participants requested to 
>attend all sessions)
>(The room will be available after the 2nd session so you can 
>continue working on your apparatus; the third session, where the 
>winner will be announced, may also run longer.)
>WHERE: TBA
>
>COMPETITION  AWARD: Win a trip to India!
>
>Advance sign-up is required: india at media.mit.edu