Kargil, Sept 17: A four-day residential camp was initiated at the Kargil Campus, University of Ladakh from 15 September to 19 September 2023.
Approximately 40 schools from the Kargil district came together to participate in the ‘Yousuf Hamied Residential Camp,’ an extraordinary and inspiring initiative organized by the Department of Chemistry, Kargil Campus of the University of Ladakh in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry.
With the enthusiastic participation of 74 students, comprising 37 males and 37 females from various schools, the program was dedicated to nurturing a profound interest in chemistry among young minds.
The majority of these students were 9th-grade students who were treated to a series of captivating chemistry experiments, hands-on demonstrations by faculty members from the Kargil Campus Chemistry department, and engaging lectures delivered by experts in the field.
The program began with icebreaker activities and a motivational talk on September 15, 2023. Mohammed Ali, Headmaster of Middle School Karith, delivered a powerful & motivational speech, inspiring the students to aspire to become successful individuals in their careers.
The inaugural session of the camp was graced by the Prof. (Dr.) S.K. Mehta, Vice Chancellor of the UoL, a distinguished fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, who inspired the students with his words of wisdom and encouraged them to aim for higher goals in their lives.
Kaneez Fatima, the Rector of Kargil Campus, played a pivotal role and as a guiding force behind this initiative, offering invaluable guidance and support.
The event also saw the presence of various dignitaries including Prof. Deskyong Namgyal, Controller of Examinations at University of Ladakh; Mohd Hadi, Deputy CEO of Sankoo (Special Guest on the occasion); Melissa Mendona, Program Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry; Principals from various higher secondary schools; teaching faculties of chemistry from various colleges and schools; and a substantial number of student participants, all actively engaged in the session.
The “Yousuf Hamied Residential Camp” is not just an educational program, it represents an opportunity for students to explore the beauty and wonders of chemistry through interactive and colorful experiments.
It provided a unique experience for these young minds to witness the magic of chemistry up close and personal. One of the remarkable features of this camp is its commitment to providing students with free accommodation, meals, and basic facilities, ensuring that every young scientist has equal access to this enriching experience.
Following the inaugural session, Gh. Ali, Camp Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Chemistry, briefed the students on laboratory safety procedures.
This was followed by a talk on “Introduction to Chemistry” by Prof. (Dr.) S. K. Mehta, Vice Chancellor of UoL. The session was highly interactive, with students engaging in discussions with Prof. Mehta about career opportunities in chemistry and the role of chemistry in everyday life. He also shared inspiring success stories with the students.
The faculty members of the Chemistry department, Dr. Akbar Ali, Dr. Hadi Ali, and Dr. Jawed Ijaz Hussain along with chemistry students, conducted experiments on color creation, the silver Mirror experiment, and the chemistry of crystallization.
The students actively participated in these experiments. Several other activities are scheduled in the coming days to further ignite the students’ interest in chemistry.
The upcoming activities pertain to domains like Forensic Science Experiments, Global Coin Battery experiments, Clock reactions, Hydrogel Experiments, Chemical Volcano, Chemical Snake and Elephant toothpaste etc. to create interest in academics and research.
