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This centre is involved in development of new technologies used in exhibits,
conducts professional training programmes and is well equipped for offering
catalytic support to Science Centres in India and abroad. A series of exhibits
'Funscience' for indoor use and a set of exhibits that is rugged and good for
outdoor use in Science Parks have been developed. |
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| Fun Science |
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Experience the thrill of discovery as you play with
the Fun Science exhibits.
Fun Science exhibits, an integral component of all NCSM Museums and Centres,
are developed in such a way that they easily supplement the school science
education. But their primary aim is to ignite the spirit of inquiry in the
minds of the visitors. These exhibits are stand-alone and can be assembled
quickly.
More than 100 such exhibits on different topics have been designed and
developed by NCSM. Try out some of
them. Discover what gravity is and how it works; explore the
brain and the senses, behaviour and the body, colour and vision, understand
mechanics, electricity, magnetism and many more topics through these exhibits. |
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| Science Park |
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In 1979, the National Council of Science Museums,
India pioneered the concept of an integrated approach to make science learning
a fun in an outdoor ambience. The outcome was the
first science park in a science centre environment, set up at
Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai in 1979.
A science park is
an exposition in the open air where interactive exhibits are interspersed and
placed aesthetically merging with the colourful natural landscape in a safe,
clean environment. Sundials, Pendulums, Swings, Ball Roller Coasters, Mobius
Bands etc. ensure that fun and science are a part of the exhibits. |
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| Fascinating Physics |
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 Physics,
the branch of science, which aims at unraveling the mysteries of the physical
world and nature, systematically on the firm footing of observation, experiment
and logic, is now unfolding itself in a more 'Fascinating' manner in BITM in
the Fascinating Physics Gallery. The Classical Physics section of this gallery
has 28 interactive exhibits on Mechanics, Gravitation, Light and
Electromagnetic Waves. The Modern Physics section of the gallery takes you to
the microcosm of subatomic particles, to the edges of the universe where black
holes and pulsars reside, to a super cool region near the absolute zero
temperature and all such forbidden areas! The 38 exhibits with eye-catching
visuals, working models, animations, video, multimedia, unmanned quiz and other
presentation techniques make one's experience enthralling. |
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| Motive Power |
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 The
gallery on 'Motive Power', depicts, how, ever-rising need of power forced man
to use animal power and, nature's wind and waterpower, to supplement his
physical strength. It continues up to modern day's diesel and petrol engines.
Exhibits on the most recent sources of power and the future projections are
also present in this gallery. |
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| Transport |
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 Spread over an area of 500 sq mtr, BITM, Kolkata has opened on April 25, 2008, a gallery on ‘Transport’ which portrays the development of transport system from the ‘Wheel’ to the ‘Supersonic Jet Engines’ through artifacts, models and interactive exhibits in 13 sections.
The Palanquin of Bengal, the 3D model of the Sumerian wheel, ancient chariots in different civilizations, mode of transportation in different regions, transportation of the 18th century Kolkata can be found in the introductory section. The exhibit “Water Transport” highlights boats in different civilizations and maritime activities in ancient India through animations and lighting. Indian heritage in shipbuilding has also been displayed in the gallery.
In “Bicycles” section, its role as an eco-friendly transport mode has been presented with scale-down models of their different forms. The story of Tram has been presented with a model of Kolkata Tram. The story of locomotives since the Cugnot Steam Engine to the latest German-built LHB coach of Rajdhani Express have been presented in the form of interactive models and video presentation in the subsequent section. In an exclusive enclave, visitors can find information about different engines ‘that shaped our world’ and some popular rail routes with an opportunity of seeing a vintage steam engine. A 1926 Rolls Royce Car and the Fiat Tipo (1925) used by Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose are on display.
The visitors also find the pivotal role of ships as an important transport mode with special emphasis on the first submarine “Turtle”. A section on air transport highlights the basic theories and displays the scale down models of different aircrafts including rockets of ISRO. An exhibit “Super Transport” presents a glimpse of those areas under water, on water and land and in air and space that are fast changing the face of our world.
A dedicated corner for underground railway system presents a cross-sectional view of Kolkata Metro station, its historical landmarks, and the salient features of Delhi Metro Railway through models, video films and interactive exhibits. The salient features of the oldest and the busiest Metro Railway in the world with the potentials of the proposed Metro Railways in different cities of India have also been presented. |
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| Biotechnology |
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 'Biotechnology'
implies genetic manipulation of organisms to give them new capabilities or
improved characteristics for the benefit of human beings directly or
indirectly. Through arrays of interactive exhibit, this gallery makes this
cutting edge technology easy to understand. |
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| Popular Science |
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 One
of the oldest, yet one of the most sought after galleries of BITM, which
explains the different fundamental disciplines of science such as mechanics,
optics, sound, electricity and electronics, through fun. |
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| Metals |
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| Since the dawn of civilization, metals have played a
key-role in the life of man. Without effective utilization of metals, the
spectacular engineering achievements of the present age would not have been
possible. The Metals gallery of BITM depicts the story of four most important
metals - Copper, Zinc, Iron & Steel and Aluminium through interactive
exhibits, diorama, animated panels and multimedia presentation. |
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| Solar Energy Corner |
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 Application
of Solar Energy in different sectors is exhibited here through interactive
exhibits. T.V. Sets, Light, Fan, Toy Cars etc. are operated through solar
energy here. |
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| Electricity |
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 The
story of discovery, harnessing, different forms and applications of Electricity
are explained through lively exhibits. The visitors can handle these exhibits
for studying and exploring the principles of electricity. Interesting exhibits
demonstrated here are Jacob's Ladder showing rising arc, Tesla Coil
illuminating a tube light without connection etc. |
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| Communication |
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| The gallery on communication traces the development
of Postal Service, Telegraphy and Telephony. A huge collection of Telephone
sets of 19th and 20th Century is the prime attraction of this gallery. A
replica of picture phone can also be found among other exhibits. |
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| Electronics |
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 The
exhibits in this gallery depict various underlying principles of electronics,
fascinating behaviour and applications in different fields of science and
technology. |
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| Life Science |
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 This
gallery at BITM is an effort to bring forth the science of life through a
series of exhibits, both animate and inanimate. It narrates the story of life
on earth, as unfolded through the ages, in all its magnificent varieties on
three major habitats this planet could offer - water, land and air. |
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| Mock-up Coal Mine |
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The renovated underground Mock-Up Coal Mine of BITM, Kolkata inaugurated on April 4, 2008 with ‘Light & Sound Show’, provides an experience of the real life thrills inside a coal mine. The visitors have the knowledge of how does a coal mine look and what is happening below the ground. The air circulation and illumination of a coal mine, in spite of its great depth and extreme darkness, are presented here. One can have an idea of the coal cutting methods – both manual and mechanical, how coal is transported out of the coal mine, why the tunnel does not collapse after the excavation of coal, what are the safety measures adopted etc. |
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Mock-up Coalmine |
Mock-up Coalmine |
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| Television Gallery |
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BITM has developed a unique gallery on Television as a significant achievement of the 20th century in an exciting and experiential learning ambience through interactive and high-tech gadgets. The exposition is organized in the following sections.
Down Memory Lane: This is a rich tribute to great artists, scientists and technologists who, long before the introduction of television, envisioned the possibilities and directly or indirectly contributed immensely to the causes of audiovisual transmissions.
The Technological Developments: Here visitors can experience some of the epoch-making works in interactive versions like Nipkow’s Disc (the first scanning device, Zeotrope (early animation device) etc. The gallery has a corner Mechanical Television, dedicated to the Scottish inventor John Logie Baird, the personality synonymous with the development of modern Television. A replica of his “Falkirk” Television Transmitter developed in 1926 is displayed here. The visitors can get the scientific explanation of colour transmission through interactive exhibits in the section Colour Television and Steps to Colour.
Revisiting the Vintage Era: In the section Vintage Valves, the gallery presents a rich collection of artifacts in their historical perspective. A corner of the gallery, Looking Back, houses a diorama of a working video editing studio in the U-matic low-band domain. Visitors would get a chance to revisit that time and equipment. The visitor may “Tilt a Table” to explore the technology, sizes and shapes of TV sets that evolved over the decades.
Current Scenario: Interactive exhibits on Display Systems, Transmitting TV Pictures and Cable Television, a live Direct-To-Home (DTH) system inside the gallery brings to the visitors a glimpse of the current technological scenario.
Modern TV Studio: The gallery offers visitors the joy of ‘live’ performance in a modern TV Studio. They may take part in stage performance and get the chance of experiencing how a TV programme is organized on stage with the mind-boggling Chromakey effects.
Television in India: Since its introduction on an experimental basis under the aegis of All India Radio in 1959 in New Delhi, Television in India today has come a long way to become one of the frontrunners in the global scenario. This phenomenal development of the sector has been portrayed through a video film here highlighting different facets of Indian Television.
Ongoing Technological Initiatives: By its very nature, television technology always tends to out-modern the ultra-moderns of today. The gallery presents multimedia based interactive computer kiosks on New Faces of Television & Virtual Make-Up to highlight the current initiatives of this technology. The gallery with a host of unique experience-based exhibits, activities and display systems would help the visitors get answers to all queries of this magnificent technology at BITM.
The Television Gallery was inaugurated on May 2, 2007 on the occasion of the 48th Anniversary of BITM.
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| Rivers Exhibition |
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 On May 2, 2008, BITM, Kolkata inaugurated an exhibition “Rivers” consisting of visual panels, interactive exhibits, videos, multimedia kiosks and matching games & quiz, developed by National Council of Science Museums.
The Introduction section deals with the development that has taken place in the areas located near the river which provides water for industries, agriculture, commercial, aquaculture and domestic purposes and also highlights the issues related to the use, overuse and distribution of river water. Other sections are ‘Rivers as Physical Systems’, ‘India: A Land of Great Rivers’, ‘The Human Impact’, and ‘Water Wars: Too Little For Too Many’.
The section on ‘Burning Issues: How Real Are They’ deals with the social issue of rehabilitation of people displaced by large hydro-electric projects, the physical problem of saving river channels from excessive silting and pollution, the threat to the Ganga due to melting of the Gangotri glacier and the resulting invasion of Sea into the Ganges delta etc.
“Act Now” section makes the visitors aware of the urgent need to take an informed and judicious approach in managing great rivers and to save the most precious freshwater sources and ecosystems. |
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