The second edition of the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) Science & Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers (SHINE) programme concluded on August 12, giving thousands of school students across the country an opportunity to experience biomedical and public health research first-hand.
Organised by the Department of Health Research and ICMR on August 11-12, the nationwide initiative covered 83 locations across 31 States and Union Territories, taking scientific exposure beyond major cities to remote and rural regions.
The programme was aimed at students of Classes 9 to 12 and sought to encourage scientific curiosity in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to young people to “spend a day as a scientist”.
Students get hands-on exposure to research
Students participated in laboratory visits, scientific demonstrations, poster walks and practical activities designed to make biomedical research more accessible and engaging.
In Nagpur and Gorakhpur, students were given an opportunity to see Mobile BSL-3 laboratories, which enable high-containment research to be carried out in field settings. At other participating centres, students took part in demonstrations and hands-on exercises covering areas such as body mass index calculation and laboratory hygiene.
The programme also reached students in geographically remote regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as rural areas of Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
In Delhi, young innovators showcased public health-related solutions developed through Atal Tinkering Labs, demonstrating the potential of school students to contribute to scientific problem-solving.
ICMR launches SHINE website and nationwide competition
As part of the initiative, ICMR launched the official SHINE website, providing students with programme information, resources and opportunities related to health research.
ICMR has also announced a nationwide SHINE school competition, inviting students to identify real-world public health challenges, formulate research questions and suggest potential solutions.
The competition is intended to take the “spend a day as a scientist” concept further by encouraging students to examine health issues in their surroundings through scientific inquiry and innovation. Applications will remain open until September 11, 2026.
Schools seek more frequent research exposure
The initiative received a positive response from participating schools and teachers, who highlighted the value of exposing students to scientific research and laboratory environments beyond the classroom.
Several teachers also suggested that such programmes be organised more frequently to sustain students’ interest in science and research.
The SHINE initiative is designed to help students move beyond learning scientific concepts theoretically to observing research processes, conducting practical activities and asking questions about real-world health challenges.
By expanding research outreach to schools and field locations across the country, ICMR aims to nurture scientific thinking and innovation among young people and encourage them to contribute to the vision of a Swasth and Viksit Bharat.
