Planetarium to get 3D science theatre

Anna Science Centre - Planetarium, Tiruchi, will have a 3D science theatre, costing Rs. 25 lakh, by March.

While the planetarium features shows on the wonders of the space through enchanting visuals and sound effects, the theatre will serve the students’ purpose of learning about frontier areas of science like cloning and nanotechnology in the entertainment mode, Executive Director of Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre (TNSTC), Chennai, P. Iyamperumal, told presspersons here on Wednesday.

The mandate of the TNSTC was to establish the theatre before the end of this financial year at the Anna Science Centre which attracted 55,000 students last year, Dr. Iyamperumal said.

He advocated floating of an entity in Tiruchi on the lines of Madras Science Association by scientists and intellectuals to sponsor visit of economically backward students from rural parts of the central region.

Thanks to the MSA, the Periyar Science and Technology Centre and the B.M. Birla Planetarium at Chennai could attract six lakh students, he said.

Stating that establishment of a Science Centre on the premises of the Thanjavur Tamil University was under TNSTC’s consideration, Dr. Iyamperumal informed that the work on the Rs. 8 crore Regional Science Centre and Planetarium in Coimbatore would be completed by 2011.

The District Science Centre established at Vellore at a cost of Rs. 2.9 crore would become operational in a month. It would feature three galleries on fun science, leather technology, and environmental technology, besides a ‘portable planetarium’.

A similar centre was being developed at Madurai Kamaraj University at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crore, Dr. Iyamperumal said, adding that a science centre had been planned for Sivaganga district also.