Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre

Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC) is a pioneering institution dedicated to promoting scientific temper, experiential learning, and innovation among children, youth, teachers, and the general public. Established in 1966 by the visionary scientist, Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the Centre was created to make science accessible, engaging, and relevant to everyday life, long before experiential STEM education became a global priority.

Over nearly six decades, VASCSC has evolved into a dynamic hub for science communication, STEM education, innovation, and community engagement. Rooted in Dr Sarabhai’s belief that “science must reach the masses”, the Centre has consistently designed programmes that spark curiosity, develop problem-solving skills, and nurture a lifelong love for science.

History & Legacy: Founded during India's formative years of scientific growth, VASCSC played a critical role in shaping informal science education in the country. As one of the earliest community science centres in India, it nurtured experimentation, model-making, inquiry, and open-ended exploration at a time when traditional rote-based learning dominated classrooms. The Centre continues to uphold this legacy, blending tradition with modern STEM innovations.

Objectives: The objectives of VASCSC are -

a) To promote among students, teachers and the public:

• an understanding of fundamental concepts involved in Science and STEM Education;
• the acquisition of scientific knowledge and insights as far as possible by the process of inquiry through experiment, audio-visual media, and other means;
• the ability to solve problems;

b) To stimulate interest in the principles of Science and Scientific method among students of elementary and secondary schools as well as colleges by giving them the necessary encouragement and exposure;

c) To be concerned with the role of education and ways of improving science education, in relation to the individual and the community as a whole;

d) To help make clear the social implications of science and technology.

Core Activities & Programmes: VASCSC offers a wide spectrum of innovative programmes, including:

• STEM Hands-on Workshops: Regular programmes in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, astronomy, model rocketry, and emerging technologies such as robotics, electronics, 3D technology, AI/ML basics, and environmental science.
• Teacher Training & Capacity Building: Comprehensive training programmes to strengthen STEM experiential learning, equip teachers with innovative tools, and integrate NEP 2020 recommendations.
• Mobile Science & Community Outreach: Taking science models, experiments, and demonstrations to rural, tribal, and aspirational districts to ensure last-mile access.
• Innovation & Maker Activities: Tinkering, robotics, and design-thinking sessions encouraging students to build, experiment, and innovate.
• Public Engagement Events: Astronomical observation nights, exhibitions, science fairs, and science shows, and commemorative events like National Space Day.
• Development of Innovative Teaching Learning Material: Creating learning materials, kits, demonstrative models, exhibits, and tools for effective science communication.
• Collaborations & Partnerships: Working with schools, government bodies, corporate CSRs, international agencies, and philanthropists to scale science education initiatives.

Facilities

• Well-equipped laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Emerging Technologies, Astronomy, and Model Rocketry.
• STEM library housing over 15,000 books, scientific journals and other resource material.
• Workshop, to develop TLMs and exhibitions.
• Science Shop, to avail a wide range of TLMs especially to teachers and students.

A Few Firsts by VASCSC

• First interactive exhibition space
• Open Laboratories
• Mathematics Laboratory
• Science Playground
• First to actively use computers in science education
• First interactive (animated) educational programs
• Instrumental in setting up other Science Centres, and helped develop a programme for the Satellite Institutional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1971 and developed Space Education Cells in different Community Science Centres.

Recent Initiatives

• Science for Society: Setting up Community Science Centres/STEM Labs in schools serving underprivileged children, STEM hands-on workshops for students, training programmes for teachers, Science fellowships for young science graduates, recognizing science and technology-based innovations through annual awards to promote scientific R&D.
• E-STEM for Climate Change Education: STEM for Environment and Climate Change workshops for students in Gujarat.
• STEM for Environment: Innovative STEM Hands-on Workshops for Environment Education for Students in Schools and Colleges.
• STEM for Equity: STEM workshops in schools serving socio-economically disadvantaged groups (intellectually challenged, underprivileged, minority, differently abled, rural and tribal).
• STEM for Girls: STEM workshops focusing on emerging technologies for schools in and around Ahmedabad, catering to underprivileged girl students.
• Joy of Science - Mobile Science Lab and Exploratory: To reach out to underprivileged children, especially those from aspirational districts in Gujarat, providing them with hands-on lab experience in their schools.
• Science Express: VASCSC managed the ‘Science Express Exhibition Train’ - the mega science outreach programme on behalf of Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, attracting over 18.2 mn visitors during its course of nine years.

VASCSC projects and programmes are supported by several Government agencies and CSR partners including NAAEE (USA), Jane Goodall Institute India, Larsen & Toubro, Oracle, IBM India, EY Foundation, KHS Machinery, WAAH, Vestas Wind Technology India, ISRO, Schlumberger, American India Foundation, HCL Foundation, Systronics India, Vovantis Laboratories, Kostwein India, and Truetzschler India.

Beneficiaries Engaged: Each year, VASCSC reaches lakhs of students, teachers, parents, and community members through direct and indirect interventions. Its programmes specifically focus on schools (govt, govt-aided, trust-run) serving underprivileged students, and girls, ensuring equitable access to quality STEM education.

Future Plans: VASCSC is expanding its mission through initiatives that will shape the next decade of STEM education:

• Scaling Emerging Technologies programmes to equip girls and marginalized learners with hands-on exposure to AI, ML, robotics, drone technology, and other future-ready domains.
• STEM Fellowships for young science and engineering graduates, especially for women to nurture future STEM leaders and help bridge gender gaps in the field.
• Setting up Climate Action Lab, a dedicated space where students can investigate environmental challenges, experiment with ideas, and design practical solutions for climate resilience.
• Strengthening collaborations with global and national partners to increase outreach.