Latest news with #VITM
The Hindu
27-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Scientists call for digital transition of Bengaluru's VITM on diamond jubilee
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM), a landmark scientific institution located in Bengaluru, celebrated its diamond jubilee on Sunday. The museum was inaugurated on July 27, 1965. During the event, people from the scientific community called for a digital transition of the museum. 'We live in a digital world, and we need to keep changing with the times. We want VITM to become more and more advanced digitally as the digital world does not have the constraints that are present in the physical world. With a technology like Virtual Reality (VR) glasses, students can experience unknown worlds, walk on Mars, or take a deep dive into the nano world. The possibilities are infinite in the digital world, and it should be expanded to make students realise how wondrous science is,' said Govindan Rangarajan, Director of Indian Institute of Science, while speaking at the event. He also said that physical experience at a museum is equally important. 'Such a museum is critical these days as all youngsters are immersed in their phones and do not have tactile stimulation. When they come here and actually see the exhibits, feel them, and work on them with their own hands, it is a different experience for this generation. They will get inspired to choose a career in science and mathematics while interacting with these artefacts. We should transition to the digital world while also keeping the physical world (intact).' The renovated 'Fun Science Gallery' was also inaugurated as part of the celebrations on Sunday. The gallery includes practical applications related to basic physics and science, the level of which is taught in high school and college. It also has puzzles and illusions for students to solve and experience. B. Venkataraman, chairman of VITM's Executive Committee also stressed on digital transition. 'This museum has been a beacon of scientific knowledge, innovation, and inspiration since its inception. Over the years, it has fostered love for science and technology among millions, becoming a dynamic space where learning meets creativity and imagination. The way forward is digital, and in this era of transition, we need to delve deeply (into the digital world) and make sure that the mission continues,' he said.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum in Bengaluru turns 60, revamps gallery to Fun City
Bengaluru: As it marks its diamond jubilee, Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM) in the city remains a vital centre for science learning, with eight galleries and over 350 exhibits across 4,000 sqm in Cubbon Park. To commemorate 60 years, the museum is set to unveil a revamped version of its popular Fun Science Gallery, now rebranded as Fun City, this Sunday. The gallery will open to public at the museum building. New look for a long-standing gallery The Fun Science gallery, a fixture at VITM for years, has undergone a complete overhaul. The redesigned space features 40 exhibits, digital interfaces, and an updated layout, covering topics such as illusion art, fluid dynamics, pendulums, multi-colour shadows, classical mechanisms, and more. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "Nearly 50% of the exhibits are new," said Sajoo Bhaskaran, director, VITM. "The idea was to refresh the entire gallery. People want novelty. Fun City includes hands-on setups — from optical illusions and kinetic puzzles to experiments with sound, light and force — to make science more accessible. Science is not only for BSc or MSc students; anyone can enjoy it," Bhaskaran added. Space & attention are challenges Despite its popularity, the museum is constrained by limited space. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 & 4 BHK Starts ₹1.65 Cr in Kukatpally Honer Signatis Book Now Undo "We have eight galleries and 350 exhibits, but no room to add new crowd-pullers like the Chandrayaan-3 model," said Cyril Babu, curator, VITM. "On busy days, we see 5,000 to 10,000 visitors. The galleries are already full. We've raised the issue with the govt, but there's been no resolution yet." Cubbon Park's zoning restrictions and fire safety norms rule out vertical expansion as well. Another challenge is the diminishing attention span of visitors. "We provide detailed labels and videos, but most visitors skip them. Even 3-4 minute clips are often found to be too long," Bhaskaran said. Footfall recovers, but costs rise After a sharp dip during the pandemic, visitor numbers are slowly returning to pre-Covid levels. "We used to receive around 10 lakh visitors annually. That dropped to about 3 lakh during the pandemic. Last year, we climbed back to 9 lakh," Bhaskaran said. To manage rising operational costs, VITM will marginally increase ticket prices from Rs 95 to Rs 100 from Aug 1. "We're required to revise prices for maintenance. We have a small team of 80 handling administration and upkeep, despite heavy footfall," Bhaskaran added. Looking ahead Plans are already in place to renovate the electro-technical gallery next year. "The goal is to ignite curiosity. We want every visitor, especially children, to realise that science is not out of reach. Science is evolving constantly, and while we are doing our best to keep up, we need more space to grow," Babu said. Box VITM's journey ■ Established on July 14, 1962 by National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) ■ Dedicated to Sir M Visvesvaraya ■ Official birthday on July 27, 1965, the day the first gallery was inaugurated ■ Idea by journalist and nationalist, BN Gupta ■ Inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru ■ First exhibition on electricity on July 27, 1965 — Source: VITM
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Exploring Bengaluru's complex relationship with water
We all know that Bengaluru was once known as the city of a thousand lakes, but did you also know that it was also once watered by many rivers? From the Arkavathi, which originates in Nandi hills, to the Vrishabhavathi, which is believed to have been born in this very city and the Dakshina Pinakini traversing through the eastern ends of Bengaluru, including Chikkaballapur, Hoskote, Malur, Kadugodi, and Sarjapura, 'the city once had a network of rivers and natural streams flowing through it,' states a story map at Waterscapes of Bengaluru, a new exhibition jointly developed by the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum (VITM) and the Paani Earth Foundation. The exhibition, which is being held at the VITM and will include workshops, expert interactions, and demonstrations, is open till Independence Day. 'As August 15 approaches, through these efforts, we hope the rivers will finally get the attention they deserve, with tangible steps taken to set them free,' says Jyoti Mehra, curator at VITM, which has partnered with numerous city-based organisations, including WELL Labs, Biome Environmental Solutions, MOD Foundation, Mythic Society and Ecosattva for the initiative. Relationship with water Waterscapes of Bengaluru: Flows and Futures of our City's Rivers and Lakes, which takes visitors on a journey through the city's evolving waterscapes, from ancient wisdom to modern-day challenges, explores 'the city's relationship with water, which has always been complex,' she says. Through a series of digital interactives, games, puzzles, and hands-on water-based activities, the organisers hope to provide visitors with an immersive experience to help them learn about the background and threats faced by the city's rivers, once central to the city's ecological balance, but now heavily encroached upon and polluted. They will also get to explore Bengaluru's ingenious network of interconnected lakes, tanks, and open wells that once captured seasonal rain and supported everyday life, but is today largely distorted due to rapid urbanisation, resulting in dependence on large-scale water supply schemes like the Cauvery project, which pumps water over 100 km uphill to reach the city, says Mehra. According to her, the explosive growth of Bengaluru's population from 0.16 million in 1901 to over 14 million today and widespread concretisation has forced the city to draw over 50% of its water from the ground. 'The struggle to balance growth with its fragile hydrology is a constant one, which has led to people digging deeper, drawing farther, and reaching wider in search of water,' she says, adding that the warning signs to the health of our water system are obvious: frothing lakes, floods, and failing borewells in the city. While this exhibition is a stark reminder of the acuteness of the crisis, it also celebrates the revival of water wisdom, from the K-100 project to the Million Wells Campaign to lake rejuvenation projects and urban wetland protection. 'These efforts are living blueprints for a future where water is co-owned, co-managed, and co-created by all.' Public sensitivity The exhibition idea emerged rather serendipitously. Mehra was part of a panel discussion at the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) focusing on sustainability and climate change when she met Madhuri Mandava, the co-founder of the Paani Earth Foundation. That is when she first learnt about the rivers of Bengaluru; till then, the only river she had associated the city with was the Cauvery. 'Once that happened, I realised that would be apt to bring the story of rivers here…present a broader perspective of the whole waterscape of Bengaluru,' she says of the exhibition, which she believes is especially timely given that it is now peak summer, when the city often experiences an acute water shortage. 'The moment monsoons come, people forget. So, it is a very seasonal unrest that happens,' she says. 'We wanted to tap into that and sensitise the public.' In her opinion, having people visit, experience this narrative and participate in various activities could be important in reviving our water bodies and managing water more sustainably. 'Water is not just an environmental issue. It has a scientific basis…emotional and cultural aspect to it,' says Mehra, who believes that using a mixture of artwork, mythologies, histories, maps and graphics to tell the story of water helps draw more people into its conservation. 'Knowledge is spread on many platforms today, but a museum space needs to focus on the engagement aspect,' she believes. 'Education and sensitisation cannot happen without engagement.' Exhibition walkthrough The exhibition uses a first-person narrative technique to tell the stories of the city's rivers. 'You can imagine whatever you want, what she is feeling…something like a living being,' says Mandava, who feels that structuring the narrative this way will help visitors have a personal connection with these water bodies. Another aspect of rivers, in connection to Bengaluru, that is explored is how the Cauvery is often reduced to being a source of tap water for most Bengalureans, rather than a living, breathing entity. According to an exhibit, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) spends nearly ₹3 crores daily on electricity for pumping water, making the water from Cauvery one of the most expensive sources in this country. Additionally, 'the moment you have river water coming through a pipe, you don't consider that the lake or tank next door needs to be preserved,' believes Mehra. 'And when you ignore it, it becomes a stagnant water body, losing its vitality and ecological function,' she says, a sentiment reiterated by an exhibit titled Bengaluru's Legacy of Living Lakes. The exhibit, which discusses the cascading, interlinked design of lakes, many of which were developed during the reign of Kempe Gowda in the 16th century, dwells on how the city destroyed its water web and its far-reaching consequences, including frothing, fish kills, flooding and water contamination. 'Many of these lakes have been converted into malls, playgrounds and bus stands, and the catchment points are all gone,' says Mehra, while Mandava adds, 'We have lost the big picture. Everybody looks at a lake as an isolated water body, but one forgets that it eventually flows into the river, coming back as 'food or milk for us,' she reminds us, pointing out that in the Vrishabhavathi basin, for instance, farmers grow cattle fodder and baby corn. 'This comes back to Bengaluru in huge amounts.' Success stories Despite the dire situation, the exhibition offers hope, sharing details of solutions such as rainwater harvesting, recharge wells and citizen-led initiatives for lake rejuvenation. It also highlights some success stories, including the K-100 project, an initiative by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in collaboration with architect and urban expert Naresh Narasimhan of Mod Foundation, which transformed a stormwater drain into an attractive and usable public space and the revival of Aurangabad's Kham river. 'It was about bringing together different organisations' work,' says Mandava, who sees the exhibition as a platform to unite all these groups. 'Bengaluru is one of the luckiest cities because of its numerous citizen groups and scientific institutions,' she says. 'We need to figure out how to come together and look for holistic solutions.'
