Science Avenue is educational, fun for children and families

Science Avenue is educational, fun for children and families.

A novel experiment by the government to encourage the study of science and technology among children is proving a big success, with thousands of pupils pouring in to see Science Avenue.

Run by the Science and Technology Ministry, Science Avenue involves fully equipped laboratories spread around Yothi and Rama VI roads for children to conduct experiments.

The ministry and the Department of Industrial Promotion, the Department of Mineral Resources, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and Mahidol University's Faculty of Science have converted parts of their facilities into scientific playgrounds for children.

With Children's Day in mind, the agencies have organised about 100 activities at 43 learning stations with names like "Discovery", "Laboratory", "Innovation" and "Astronomy".

For example, Mega Clever imported from Germany is reproduced for kids to answer questions with a focus on science. Also, several booths are showing innovations created by Thais along with some Mahidol research results.

However, those activities that seem to be attracting the most attention seem are scientific games and laboratories that give children a chance to play scientist, conducting experiments related to daily life like base-acid testing on soft drinks or vinegar. Another popular activity shows how to produce nano-anti-bacterial clothes and how they work.

While making and racing rockets is one of the most popular activities for boys, producing artwork using recycled paper seems to interest girls and their mothers.

One Prathom-5 student from Phuket, Thitiphan Jaiboon, said he was very keen on maths and science, so he persuaded his parents to visit Science Avenue after seeing a television commercial. He said he liked the Sudoku booth and had won a top prize at it. He promised to tell his friends about the event.

A Prathom-3 student visiting with her mother said it was fun and very educational. She mostly enjoyed making an elephant by using recycled paper, an activity that she and her mother did together. "I always thought science was very difficult and never liked it until I came to this avenue," she said.

Supunnee Singpun, a science teacher at Klong Toei's Klong Kalantan School, said she had brought 16 Prathom 4-6 students along to widen their perspectives by exploring the world of science and technology. All of them had to write a report and share their experiences with other students.

Not only do her students benefit, but she herself gained more knowledge by learning new ways to explain science by using things around us, such as a folded paper rocket to explain aerodynamics instead of an expensive scientific tool, she said.

Held as part of celebrations for Children's Day tomorrow, Science Avenue is intended to help establish a scientific mind-set through games and simple explanations, said Thanakorn Palachai, vice director of the National Science Museum and who is in charge of organising the event.

About 2,000 visitors a day have attended so far, with 3,500 expected tomorrow.

Thanakorn said the event would be moved to Pathum Thani's Klong Luang district in August and become a permanent scientific learning area.

Ninnete Surarat

The Nation
Friday January 12, 2007