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that's cool!
 

I agree recycling should not be taken for granted. It is actually the best way to minimize land pollution plus it keeps our environment clean and pleasing. Everyone should participate in recycling by personally segregating biodegradable to non biodegradable materials or trash... you may also use biodegradable materials as compose for your plants. I actually do it and it is very helpful to the growth of my plants.
 

The process of recycling should not be taken for granted. I hope it will be taken seriously specially on the 3rd World Countries.

[“Spark” Fellowship Programme]

Received from BAIF

“Spark” Fellowship Programme

 
“Spark” Fellowship Programme has been launched to serve as a unique opportunity for young professionals to explore suitable opportunities to blend education / professional background with socially relevant work.  Potential Fellows will be supported financially for upto one year and will receive an opportunity to work on projects in the areas of Environment/Biodiversity, Biotechnology and Education.  Field work will be integrated with specially designed learning inputs and support from Domain Experts and Mentors.  The fellowships will thus help to enhance one’s knowledge and skills while resulting in experiential learning and contribution to society.

The Fellowship Programme is being launched by BAIF Development Research Foundation, a reputed Voluntary Organisation in India, implementing a multidisciplinary programme for over four decades in 12 states, including 28 districts of Maharashtra with special focus on Rural Livelihood, Livestock Development, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Restoration and Improved Quality of Life.

 
The Project topics for 2010-11 are based on the following themes:
1. Environment Science / Biodiversity
2. Biotechnology
3. Education

(see http://www.baif.org.in/aspx_pages/spark_potential_project_topics.asp#esb for more information on the topics)

 
Nature of Support: The support will include a fellowship of Rs. 7,500/- per month for a period of upto 12 months. Besides this, BAIF will take care of accommodation and outstation work-related travel expense of the individual. An additional fund of around Rs. 30, 000/- per year will be provided for specific requirements in connection with the project.

Eligibility: Any individual who

    * has a passion and commitment to take up socially relevant work in the above thematic areas
    * has the drive to learn and contribute creatively;
    * has completed his/her graduation/post graduation in any discipline
    * is between 20-30 years of age

is eligible to apply for this fellowship.

Duration: The Programme is a fulltime fellowship for upto one year.

Selection:The selection procedure will include interviews by a panel and group discussions of shortlisted applicants. The shortlisted candidates will be informed via email. We would seek candidates who possess a skill set that highlights his/her ability to work with and for the society at large, has the strength of character and a positive attitude.

Applications only in the prescribed and soft format will be accepted. Download the form, fill it and e-mail it to fellowships@baif.org.in. The last date for application is 31st August 2010.

Download “Spark” Fellowship Application Form from http://www.baif.org.in/aspx_pages/application_blank_fellowship.doc

FAQs
 
Who can apply?
Any individual who has completed his/her graduation, be it any discipline, or has done post graduation or PhD.

How do I apply?
Fill the application form and mail it to fellowships@baif.org.in

What are the themes or topics for which one can apply?
The themes for 2010-11 are:
Environment Science/Biodiversity
Biotechnology
Education
(see http://www.baif.org.in/aspx_pages/spark_potential_project_topics.asp#esb for more information on the topics)


Is there any financial package associated with the fellowship?
The support will include a fellowship of Rs.7,500/- per month for a period of upto 12 months. Besides this, BAIF will take care of accommodation and outstation work-related travel expense of the individual. An additional fund of around Rs.30,000/- per year will be provided for specific requirements in connection with the project.

Is there any age limit?
The applicant should be less than 30 years of age on April 1, 2010.

Is it possible to work part time? Can I do my college along with the fellowship?
The fellowship is necessarily a fulltime programme. Candidates who would like to take up a project as part of their curricular requirement should apply to our internship programme.

Thank you for sharing this resource. Do you also have material to share on curriculum development processes in general, and on EVS in specific, especially at high school level?

Sanskriti

ICICI Centre for Elementary Education has developed blog on Elementary Education India. The link is http://elementaryeducation-india.blogspot.com/

Those who would like to contribute to the discussions and share your valuable insights on issues are invited. If you wish to write for the blog you may send your contributions to this email address. The write up will be posted on the blog with due acknowledgement.

Ashutosh Tosaria

ICICI Centre for Elementary Education
Revati Arcade, Opp. Kapil Malhar Society
Baner Road, Pune
(O): 020-66088304 | (M): 0-9049988512

Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education is organizing a two day discussion seminar on the themes listed below. The seminar is aimed at introducing educators and education researchers to current issues central to research as well as reform efforts in mathematics education across the world. The seminar will consist of talks by leading researchers/ educationists followed by discussion.

Dates and Time:
23rd & 24th August, 2010   (10.30 am to 5.00 pm on both days)

Venue:
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (TIFR) V.N. Purav Marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai – 400088 (Located right next to Anushaktinagar Bus Depot on the Mankhurd side)

Programme:

Theme for Day 1: Teacher Education and Professional Development

Speakers:

Jill Adler, King's college, London & Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg

Poonam Batra, University of Delhi


Theme for Day 2: Mathematics Education and Equity Issues

Speakers:

Ole Skovsmose, Aalborg University, Denmark

Farida Khan, Jamia Millia University, Delhi

Rohit Dhankar, Digantar, Jaipur

Participants, both local and out station need to register for the seminar
before 13th August 2010 by filling in the details attached and sending it by
email to to aaloka@hbcse.tifr.res.in and shweta@hbcse.tifr.res.in.
There is no registration fee. Limited accommodation on a sharing basis is
available on the campus for out station participants.

Organizers:

Aaloka Kanhere, Shweta Naik, K. Subramaniam HBCSE, TIFR

Launch of the Worlds largest sustainability and climate change education programme, for schools by Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Paryavaran Ambassador on 24 July 2010 at Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad.
 
Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, chosen as the Paryavaran Ambassador through a nation-wide campaign of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, will launch the Sustainability and Climate Change education project of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, CEE and ArcelorMittal on 24th July, 2010, Saturday. This programme is the largest climate change and sustainability education programme in the world, for schools.

The launch programme starts from 4:00 pm at the Centre for Environment Education Auditorium, CEE, Thaltej Tekra. The event will be presided over by Dr. M.S.Swaminathan, Member of Parliament and Chairman, M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai. The event will be graced by Smt. Mrinalini Sarabhai, Shri Vijay Bhatnagar, CEO, ArcelorMittal; Dr.S.K.Nanda, Principal Secretary, Department of Forests and Environment, Government of Gujarat, senior government officials and friends of CEE. Children, Teachers and Principals from partner schools participating in this programme, from Ahmedabad city, have been invited to interact with the Paryavaran Ambassador.

The Paryavaran Mitra programme aims over three years,  at creating 2 crore Friends of the Environment in schools across India, who would undertake action towards reducing Footprint and increasing Hand Print for environmental sustainability. The programme will involve students in hands-on projects to provide them an understanding about their immediate environment; their school, neighbourhood, village or city and national and international issues. The Paryavaran Mitra would be someone who has taken part in activities in the following areas: Waste Management; Biodiversity, Wildlife and Forests; Energy; Water; Culture and Heritage.

www.ceeindia.org
http://www.ceeindia.org/cee/pick_right_cce.html

The recent article published in The Hindu on July 10, 2010 is shared here:

"With a view to set standards for quality education in smaller and far-off areas, the Centre on Friday arrived at a consensus to set up secondary schools in public-private partnership (PPP) in 2,500 blocks across the country. This is the first of its kind initiative to provide quality schooling for children.

The issue had been hanging fire for the past three years with the Human Resource Development Ministry and the Planning Commission failing to arrive at a consensus over the modalities.

At a roundtable held here, it was decided that while the capital cost of such schools would be borne by the private partners, the Centre would pay for the recurring expenses of 40 per cent of the students it will sponsor in each school based on Kendriya Vidyalaya structure. In addition, the Centre will also fund 20 per cent recurring cost towards infrastructural facilities for the sponsored students.

To be launched in 2011-12 and rolled out in three year, the first year will see 500 such schools come up and 1,000 each in the next two years. These schools will have tofollow the minimum standards of Kendriya Vidyalayas including facilities of laboratories, drinking water and toilets and will be affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education.

PREFERENCE PARAMETERS

The government is expected to sign an agreement with the private partners regarding preference parameters based on which the payments would be made. The managements would be free to run the schools in an autonomous manner subject to the satisfaction to the laid down parameters. These schools will be from Class VI to Class XII. The curriculum will have to be innovative.

The government will provide an initial financial support for 10 years – renewable in blocks of five years each – and graduated support of additional 25 per cent on recurring cost to North East, tribal blocks and Jammu and Kashmir. The financial out-go of the Centre in the remaining two years of the Fifth Five Year Plan will be Rs. 500 crore.

However, the private partner cannot have more than 20 schools in State and a maximum of 50 in the country."

School authority and teachers are invited to share their concerns with regard to this decision. Some of the concerns that this decision raises are:

* Is the basis of sharing fine?
* How will the implementation of the RTE Act be taken into account?
* Is the standard of KVs uniform?
* Who will monitor/regulate such schools?

There will be more concerns with regard to access, quality and monitoring. Kindly share on this platform.

Thanks.
Sarita
 

Hello,

Please visit this link for information on registration for the conference “Ethical Framework for a Sustainable World” 1-3 November 2010, at CEE Ahmedabad.

http://www.earthcharterplus10.org/ec_registration.html

Sanskriti

What is the registration process for the conference  titled “Ethical Framework for a Sustainable World” which will take place from 1-3 November 2010, at CEE Ahmedabad.