Chemistry is not a confusing mystery; it is a story of 109 elements. These elements are like people, they have friends and enemies. They come together to form alloys and compounds. It is the story of their growth, utility and disposal, says N.C. Mishra.

Mishra is a retired Chemist from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre radio-isotopes wing. He set up Rasayan Bharati in Mumbai to popularise science among students in urban and rural Maharastra. In his workshops children are not bogged with formulas or theories to memorise, instead, they play games about elements and compounds.

He believes in helping children to conduct experiments themselves under the guidance of teachers and other experts, this way he believes in encouraging students to be confident and develop curiosity to discover new things.

One of his student adds stating that her outlook towards Chemistry has completely changed as she now enjoys to know that there's chemistry everywhere and everything is reacting to something. She now truly believes that if you know the basics well the rest falls in place without worrying about memorising chemical names and formulas.

Mishra wishes that schools and colleges adopt a similar approach towards teaching of Chemistry and help their children discover the true joy of chemistry.

For more details contact: Rasayan Bharti, Ch 1/75, Kendriya Vihar, Kharghar, Mumbai Pin: 410210. Ph: 27578470

Source: Outlook, June 16, 2003-08-07 www.outlookindia.com

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