Fact Box: Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS II)

Science Express

The Science Express is 16 coach AC mobile train science exhibition of Department of Science & Technology (DST). The objective of the Express is to arouse interest of the young people in the field of science and technology. Since its inception, the programme is being managed by Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC). The Science Express was launched from Delhi Safdarjung Railway station on October 30, 2007. The Express has so far completed 8 phases by travelling 1,41,800 km, with 455 halts, and 1602 exhibition days. Thus, it is has become the largest, longest running and the most visited mobile science exhibition with six entries in the Limca Book of Records. Since its inception, over 1.61 crore people had visited Science Express.
The 8 phases completed by the train includes 4 phases of ‘Science Express’, which had showcased cutting edge research in science and technology being carried worldwide; 3 phases of ‘Biodiversity Special’ (SEBS) which had showcased the rich biodiversity of India; and one phase of ‘Climate Action Special’ (SECAS) that highlighted the global challenge of climate change.

SECAS II

The Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS II) constitutes 9th Phase and will stop at 68 stations for science popularisation across the country till September covering a total distance of 19,000 km. The current ninth phase of the Science Express was flagged off on February 17 this year. The SECAS is a collaborative initiative of DST, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Railways, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre (VASCSC). 
The Broad themes covered by SECAS-II are: Underlying reasons for climate change; impact of climate change and ways to reduce it; adaptation strategies and adaptation measures undertaken by India; mitigation and various programmes implemented; international negotiations for climate change etc.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2017