History
The Regional Science Centre and Planetarium, Calicut—one of the most visited places in Calicut and one of the most active science centres under the umbrella of the National Council of Science Museums, Ministry of Culture, Government of India —is home to more than 15,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity. This place presents a plethora of facilities to delight all people of all age by its diversity of themes. We regularly hold indoor and outdoor events related to science - each one more fascinating than the last one. Visit the center and come out with an enhanced understanding of our world - terrestrial and beyond. We are planning an upgrade for our forthcoming Silver Jubilee on 2022.
This centre was inaugurated on 1997 by the Shri.(Late) E.K.Nayanar, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala. Planetarium, Fun Science gallery, Children’s activity corner, Life Science, Science Park, Auditorium & Activity hall were the facilities available for visitors during the beginning period.
In 2006 old auditorium was converted to 3D theatre. This facility was inaugurated in 2006 by Shri.E.K.Ahmed, Hon’ble Union Minister of state for external affairs.
Fun Science gallery was dismantled in 2007 and shifted the exhibits to Children’s activity corner. Gallery on Human Endurance has been set by replacing the Fun Science Gallery in 2007.Childrens activity corner had been converted to Fun Science Gallery.
The Human Endurance Gallery was inaugurated by Shri.M.A.Baby, then Education Minister of Kerala. The centre converted the activity hall to Miiror magic in 2008.
Shri.Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, then Minister of Home affairs ,Govt.of Kerala inaugurated the Mirror Magic in February 2008.An additional block was constructed in 2008.The new block consists of Exhibition Hall and Auditorium. Astronomy Gallery has been set up in the new block in 2010.
The hall was inaugurated by Shri.T.K.A Nair, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of India. Two galleries Life Science and fun science were renovated in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Human Endurance gallery was dismantled in 2017.Gallery on Hall of Ocean was inaugurated on 5th May 2019 by Shri.Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala.
With a modest beginning on January 30, 1997 Calicut Planetarium has crossed a long way with a track record of about five lakh footfall presenting 1200 Shows annually. Thus, today the planetarium at Calicut is equipped with a hybrid projection system comprising nine channel digital Powerdome system with nine JVC DLA RS65 projectors and fully refurbished RFP DP2 Space Flight Opto-mechanical Projection system from Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany.
Planetarium Shows
The first three shows were procured from B M Birla Planetarium, Hyderabad. Then we started developing in-house planetarium shows. This involved development of script, visuals, music, recording and synchronizing. In a span of seventeen years of its history, the centre conceptualized and developed as many as sixteen main shows with Dona and the universe being its debut attempt.
Further it was observed that, after the winter vacation the centre is invariably flooded with students from lower and upper primary sections. They were too young to follow any astronomical stuff that we discussed during the normal public shows which is generally kept at the standards of high school students. Applying new strategy, we formulated a new method of making shows for the kids using cartoon slides. This weaved success in making our young visitors to have a meaning in visiting planetarium.
Thus, we ventured into developing eight shows for primary school groups. Also two community based shows on RAMADAN and ONAM and one special show on Indian Astronomy was developed. The maximum number of shows hit a day is recorded to be nineteen.
What do we do when we face some threat that is poignant of destabilizing the status quo of our life?
First we deny – not for us…
Then we get scared – My God, all are gone!!
Then we accept and blame and look for ‘false dawns’ – All these are because of the others…. But we will overcome …
And we curse and blame and ostracize – those ‘delinquent others’ should be exterminated for the greater common good…
In every great pandemic that has affected mankind — rangi
The paradigm has now shifted and the “low” and “immoral” people are identified as outsiders, those on the fringes of society including foreigners, immigrants, racial minorities, and people of low socioeconomic status. It has now gone a step further and has enveloped even the caregivers and the essential health service providers.
But the just and rational of men will not take this route. They will assess the threat, look for solutions, think of minimizing the damage and find ways to restore normalcy. In doing so, they will look into two places – the heart to arouse empathy for all who are suffering and the brain to analyze and fight with the causes, not just the symptoms. Sometimes the causes however may not be apparent and in such circumstances they will deal symptomatically but will delve into heaps data to find the causes simultaneously.
Science teaches us that this is the method. It has proved itself time and again by bringing success to the community, the society and the civilization in general.
That is how we found solution of feeding the burgeoning population by discovering agriculture, finding means to build villages and cities thus sorting out problems of recurrent migration, developing modes of transports to reach out and exchange our respective excesses, establishing techniques of healthcare to prolong the gift of life and creating the network of communication and data processing to understand things better. That is how we got over the pandemics spread by the bacteria and virions in history – Plague, Flu, tuberculosis, HIV and many others.
The current Corona pandemic is a case in point. No doubt, it is an unprecedented phenomenon that we ever had to deal with. But we have only one tool to fight with it – a network of rational minds and adoption of scientific processes. It is threatening our economy as it is potent of throwing many of us (particularly the unorganized casual labour forces) out of our livelihood. We need a network to absorb this shock. When we all hold our hands tight, we can provide cushioning to the falling fellow human beings providing them a safer fall saving from crash landing. This is the priority and then we must understand the processes of science to deal with this pandemic that is really a syndemic, synergistic pandemic caused due to the interaction of the new pathogen with other health conditions and social inequalities.
In current condition in the meantime when we cannot open our doors to welcome you immediately, we are trying to reach out through Web and Social Media with our message of science and with the fervent request that you renew your connection with science because that is our best survival weapon. During the Lockdown period, we are continuously holding discussions with experts in different fields to understand the impact of this pandemic so that we may chart a path to deal with it. Our digital contents are available through this website rscpcalicut.edu.in, our FB presence Rsc Calicut and our YouTube Channel rscpcalicut.virtual.
We also request you to support us as far or as little as possible financially as we are hit strong by the dearth of budget to preserve an important part of our workforce that maintain our ambience. We are committed to keep our ambience safe for you, clean for you and accessible to you so that your encounter with scientific experiences may be safe and rewarding. To save the livelihood of our upkeep staff who diligently maintain our ambience we have appealed for support to all of you as the Government has to take up many other needs resulting from this crisis and have no other way but to downsize.
Despite the importance of science in dealing with such episodes of history, the current pandemic cannot be won just by it. It has to be a people’s movement as we have seen in the success of our state. We request you to strengthen this model and be an icon for the others.
Stay safe… See you in the Science Centre beyond the period of pandemic.
Binoy Kumar Dubey
The Centre’s mission is to play a leading role in transforming man’s relationship with science, technology and nature. Create an active environment in which the student community of all ages finds ample scope to be curious about natural laws and natural sciences inculcating process of discovery and innovation. Encourage young minds of all backgrounds to explore and develop their interests in understanding the natural and human-made world. Our role becomes ever more critical as science and technology evolves and transforms our lives and world, and it means we: Promote active citizenship capable of making informed decisions in science and technology. We inspire lifelong learning of the science and engineering including mathematics. In doing so, we will continue to build exhibits and topical Exhibitions, organize workshops, symposium, seminars and trainings, demonstrate experimental science and use our educational perspective as an informal learning institution to help the formal students of all ages.
In RSCP we believe that everyone can contribute in the world of science and technology – as learners, as future scientists or engineers, as citizens of our nation, as community leaders and members of the workforce, as consumers, and as stakeholders of our people. The Science Centre is committed to deepening the public’s relationship with science and technology by leading efforts throughout the country, in both formal and informal educational arenas, to redefine the roles that science centers can play. We will continuously transform our exhibits and programs to tell a story of the natural world and the material world that focuses on the important connections, sustainability and interdependencies of these worlds. Throughout Malabar region, we will form partnerships with educational institutions to enrich our content, to make them more meaningful, and to aid technology mitigated learning to build and strengthen our community
Skywatch : "Today I visited Planetarium along with my friend after a long time to have a view of our Solar System.its located in the Science Centre .We had a wonderful Celestial feel for the entire half hour of the Show. The Show is open on all working days .Moreover there's Ample Play Area and Amusement Park for Kids."
Shabeen M
Family visitorGood one: "This science museum is goo for toddler and teenager They have good 3D show and universe show. But all was in Malayalam, we could not understand but for locals it is good"
Santosh G
Family VisitorRelax with Science: "It is a central government project to encourage and promote science & technologies and its methodologies in everyday lives through active interaction with students and public. There are many galleries, showcases, experiments and models with the objectives, The planetarium with 250 seating, 3D show, mirror magic and play area are other attractions.."
Pradeep Hudino
MagicianVery informative and interactive science park: "The science park visit was the best park of our Kozhikode trip. The park is really very good with illustrations and interactive exhibits. The whole day can be spend productively with school going kids and it is fun for adults as well. Kids gets hands on real life understanding and practical application of science. A must visit for school children. We found it better than the Thiruvanathapuram museum and science park, which at the time when we visited as one of the best in Kerala."
Dan M
Family visitorInteresting, exciting and well maintained: "Since school days, we had been going to the planaterium. After many years, we visited this place and found it just as exciting as it was 10-15 years back. The show was about 'The Sun' and it was good. The scientific attractions are well maintained. The major crowd is school kids, so if you want to enjoy a nice, quiet time with your spouse, this is not an ideal space. It is advisable to carry water and some snacks while you are roaming around. May be it's too much knowledge that tires you. As I have been to planetariums in Delhi and Bengaluru, I can vouch for this one in Calicut - it's much much better than former ones. Give it a visit and try it for yourself."
RESHMI K R
Family visitor