Workshop cum hands-on session on virtual labs held at NIT Srinagar

Srinagar, October 25: A day-long workshop and hands-on session on virtual labs was organized by the Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology (NIT Srinagar) in collaboration with IIT Delhi on the campus.

The Virtual Labs project is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), GOI under the aegis of National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT). This project is a group of 12 actively participating institutes and IIT Delhi is the coordinating institute.

The inaugural session of the workshop was presided over by Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Atikur Rehman, Dean faculty Welfare Prof (Dr.) G. A. Harmain who were Guest of Honor on the occasion. A large number of students participated in the mega workshop.

The event was graced by Prof. M. Ikram (HoD Physics), Er Chandan Kumar, Sr. Field Officer, IIT Delhi, Prof. M.A. Shah, Dr. Mohd Zubair Ansari (Coordinator Virtual Lab NIT Srinagar), Coordinator Dr Vijay Kumar and Dr. Harkirat Singh.

In his key address, the Institute’s Registrar, Prof. Rehman, said over the past several years, with the advancements in technology and new educational approaches, the learning landscape has completely transformed.

He said today students have access to a wide range of learning opportunities and resources that were not available in the past. The integration of technology into education has significantly expanded the learning possibilities for children at a young age, Prof Rehman said.

He further said that advancements in technology have opened up new avenues for practical learning. Under these circumstances, institutions like NIT, IIT’s thought that it may be a good idea to show those experiments at least in the virtual world.

Institute’s Registrar also congratulated IIT Delhi and the Ministry of Education for bringing out these virtual labs for students.

“Such hands-on sessions on virtual labs are important and need of the hour. I congratulate Prof. M. Ikram and his team for gathering so many students on the campus,” he added.

Dean Faculty Welfare Prof. G.A. Harmian also shared his views about virtual labs and their benefits to students. These labs offer a dynamic and interactive platform for students to explore, experiment, and apply their knowledge, and skills in various scientific disciplines, he said.

“Such labs are the need of the hour and students can analyze experimental data, draw conclusions, and present their findings in a structured manner and enhance their scientific knowledge,” Prof Harmain said.

Earlier in his welcome address, HOD Physics Prof. M. Ikram expressed his gratitude to Er Chandan Kumar, Sr. Field Officer, IIT Delhi and faculty members from department and valley-based schools for attending the mega hands session on virtual labs.

“Virtual labs provide equal access to practical learning experiences for students, regardless of their geographical locations. It eliminates barriers such as limited resources, or remote locations, ensuring that all students can participate and benefit from hands-on experiments, “he said.

On the occasion, Er. Chandan from IIT Delhi said for the first time, such an initiative has been taken up in remote experimentation. We have gathered here to learn and understand virtual lab, it is easy to use and easily accessible, he said.

“Virtual labs provide flexibility in terms of time and location. Students can access virtual labs at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection,” Er Chandan said.

Workshop Coordinator Dr. Mohd Zubair Ansari and Dr Vijay Kumar also highlighted the importance and role of virtual labs and their brief history in India.

They said that virtual labs are bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, he added.

A formal vote was presented by Dr. Harkirat Singh. He expressed her gratitude to Registrar NIT Srinagar, Er Chandan Kumar, Sr. Field Officer, IIT Delhi, and other dignitaries from both NIT Srinagar and other institutions for making the event successful.