Science Express - An Exhibition on Wheels

Indian Railway 10 Mar 2021

Science Express train is an innovative mobile science exhibition on wheels. It is a state-of-the-art science exhibition on a train traveling around India which would halt at various towns and cities across the country during which it will remain open to visitors comprising mainly students. The exhibition on wheels strives to take modern research out of the lab and reveal just how relevant science is to everyday life.

This 16-coach fully air-conditioned train houses an exhibition which showcases cutting-edge research in science and technology. The train is arousing interest of the young people in the field of science and technology. The train was launched from Delhi Safdarjung Railway station on October 30, 2007 and is being managed by Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Center.

Science Express displaying the world of micro and macro cosmos, spreading the awareness about strengths of science in meeting global challenges, including latest discoveries and innovations in the field of modern science. The train is a retreat for the visitors specially the students to know about cutting-edge science and technology through exhibits, models and audio-visual displays put up in the coaches of Science Express.

The coaches of Science Express were thematically represented on Bing Bang, Nanocosmos, Building Blocks of Life, From Gene to Organism, Architecture of Mind, World of Senses, Sensors, From Data to Knowledge, Global Challenges, Spaceship Earth, Our Home in the Cosmos and The Universe.

Till date, this unique Science Express mobile exhibition has travelled 1,41,800 km, with 455 halts and 1602 exhibition days as more than 1.56 crore people, primarily students & teachers, have visited it. It has thus become the largest, the longest running and the most visited mobile science exhibition and has six entries in the Limca Book of Records.<

Interiors of Train

The exhibition on wheels 'Science Express’ is a 16-coach fully air conditioned train houses an exhibition which showcases cutting-edge research in science and technology. Solar panels have been installed on the rooftop of Science Express coaches 11-13, for harnessing solar energy. The exhibition is open to all but primarily targets students and teachers.The broad theme covered in each exhibition coach is as follows:

Coach 1: Understanding Climate Change - Insights in the climate as a system, the greenhouse gas effect and the underlying reasons for climate change with key message that the current change in the climate is due to human activities.

Coach 2: Impact of Climate Change - How temperature rise, monsoon variations, sea level rise are predicted to affect vital sectors like water, agriculture, forests and biodiversity, and human health and ways to reduce these.

Coach 3 & 4: Adaptation - Concepts of adaptation and examples from day to day life, adaptation strategies and stories from field. Adaptation options in urban and rural contexts and the adaptation actions India is taking.

Coach 5 & 6: Mitigation - Concept and definition with examples, emphasis on restoring balance, enhancing sinks and reducing emission through Renewable Energy (RE) technologies. Various program implemented by India and low carbon strategies and ambitious goal to increase RE footprint.

Coach 7: International Negotiations for Climate Change - Introduction to UNFCCC, IPCC and internationally agreed action & targets. Explaining concept of equity and common but differential responsibility, Kyoto protocol & other key outcomes of major COP, Paris Agreement, etc.

Coach 8: Positive Actions - What can one do at school, on roads, at home and in offices and focus on concept of lifestyle choices with the key message ‘Increase your Handprint. Decrease your Footprint’.

Coach 9 & 10: Exhibition put up by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt of India, covering themes like Biotechnology for bio-resources and nature conservation with emphasis on Tiger Conservation and Chemical Ecology and India’s research and development initiatives in field of Biotechnology.

Coach 11: Exhibition put up by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) showcasing select innovations, demonstrating the ingenuity of common people and an innovative project which uses augmented reality techniques. Also, exhibition on themes like Innovations in S&T, Science Education, Technological solutions for societal development, etc.

Coach 12: A Kids Zone is set up for children from Std. 5 and below to participate in fun-filled activities, games and puzzles in science, mathematics and environment.

Coach 13: The Joy of Science (JOS) Hands-on Lab in this coach is a space where students from Std. 6-10 can perform experiments and activities to understand concepts in environment, science and mathematics in an interesting manner. A training facility is also set up for orientation of teachers here.

Tour Itinerary

Tour Schedule of Science Express
[17 February - 8 September 2017]


No.	Station	Exhibition Dates	No.	Station	Exhibition Dates
1.	Delhi Safdarjung	17 Feb 2017	35.	Kottavalasa	20 - 23 May 2017
2.	Delhi Cantt	18 - 19 Feb 2017	36.	Gudivada	24 - 26 May 2017
3.	Hisar	20 - 23 Feb 2017	37.	Mirylaguda	27 - 30 May 2017
4.	Dhuri	24 - 26 Feb 2017	38.	Gulberga	31 May-2 June 2017
5.	Taran Taran	27 - 28 Feb 2017	39.	Kalluru	3 - 5 June 2017
6.	Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra	1 - 2 March 2017	40.	Whitefield	6 - 8 June 2017
7.	Udhampur	3 - 4 March 2017	41.	Kengeri	9 - 11 June 2017
8.	Nangal Dam	6 - 7 March 2017	42.	Koduru	12 - 14 June 2017
9.	Sirhind	8 - 10 March 2017	43.	Puducherry	15 - 16 June 2017
10.	Chandigarh	12 & 14 March 2017	44.	Attur	17 - 19 June 2017
11.	Rampur	15 - 17 March 2017	45.	Karur	20 - 22 June 2017
12.	Kasganj City	18 - 20 March 2017	46.	Kodaikanal Road	24 June 2017
13.	Khalilabad	22 - 25 March 2017	47.	Virudhunagar	25 - 27 June 2017
14.	Mau	26 - 29 March 2017	48.	Arumuganeri	28 - 30 June 2017
15.	Gaya	30 - 31 March 2017	49.	Kayankulam	1 - 4 July 2017
16.	Patna	1 - 2 April 2017	50.	Thrissur	5 - 7 July 2017
17.	Kiul	3 - 4 April 2017	51.	Kannur	8 - 10 July 2017
18.	Sitamarhi	5 April 2017	52.	Madgaon	11 - 13 July 2017
19.	Samastipur	6 April 2017	53.	Ratnagiri	14 - 17 July 2017
20.	Salmari	7 - 8 April 2017	54.	Mumbai CST	19 - 22 July 2017
21.	Fakiragram	9 - 10 April 2017	55.	Nasik Road	24 - 26 July 2017
22.	Lumding	11 - 12 April 2017	56.	Murtajapur	27 - 29 July 2017
23.	Agartala	13 - 14 April 2017	57.	Nagpur	30 July-02 Aug 2017
24.	Badarpur	15 - 17 April 2017	58.	Amla	3 - 6 Aug 2017
25.	North Lakhimpur	19 - 21 April 2017	59.	Habibganj	7 - 9 Aug 2017
26.	Rangpara North	22 - 24 April 2017	60.	Bina	10 - 12 Aug 2017
27.	Bagdogra	25 - 26 April 2017	61.	Khajuraho	13 - 14 Aug 2017
28.	Dhanbad	28 - 30 April 2017	62.	Marwar	17 - 18 Aug 2017
29.	Barrackpore	1 - 2 May 2017	63.	Balotra	19 - 21 Aug 2017
30.	Kalyani	3 - 5 May 2017	64.	Deesa	22 - 24 Aug 2017
31.	Chandil	6 - 8 May 2017	65.	Bhuj	25 - 27 Aug 2017
32.	Bhadrak	9, 11 & 12 May 2017	66.	Bhaktinagar	28 - 31 Aug 2017
33.	Puri	13 - 16 May 2017	67.	Gondal	1 - 4 Sep 2017
34.	Chatarpur	17 - 19 May 2017	68.	Gandhinagar Capital	5 - 8 Sep 2017

History of train

Started from 2007, the unique Science Express mobile exhibition on wheels has completed its 8 phases which includes:

Science Express
First 4 phases from 2007 to 2011, the train travelled as 'Science Express’ displaying the world of micro and macro cosmos, spreading the awareness about strengths of science in meeting global challenges, including latest discoveries and innovations in the field of modern science.

Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS)
From 2012 to 2014, the train travelled as Science Express Biodiversity Special. The state-of-the-art exhibition aboard SEBS created widespread awareness on unique biodiversity of India, climate change and related issues especially to students.

Out of the 16 coaches, 8 coaches that were solely dedicated to showcasing the myriad biodiversity spread across the bio-geographical zones of India. In rest of the rake, DST had put up exhibition on the themes of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Water, Sustainable Environment and Energy Conservation, Energy Conservation, DST’s panels on Science Education in India had been placed.

Science Express Climate Action Special
Science Express Climate Action Special ran and redesigned for the eighth phase, in the year 2015 on the ‘Climate Change’ theme. The basic objective was to contribute towards increasing understanding of the science of climate change, the observed and anticipated impacts, and different possible responses. It create awareness among various sections of society, especially students, as to how Climate Change can be combated through mitigation and adaptation.

Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS) II
The unprecedented response which SECAS received during its journey, decided to run the ninth phase of Science Express once again as on the theme ‘Climate Change’ as SECAS II. The ninth phase of the Science Express as SECAS II is scheduled to run from 17 Feb. to 08 Sept. 2017, over 19000 km during which it will be exhibited at 68 stations across India. SECAS focuses on Climate Change and Science & Technology. The exhibition will convey a message about Climate Change and will also be a good opportunity to generate dialogue and discussion.