ROCK MUSEUM

Hyderabad Gets India's First Open Rock Museum 

    On the first day of his two-day visit, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated India's first unique "Rock" Museum and later addressed the Hyderabad Scientists at the CSIR-National Geographic Geophysical Research Institute(NGRI).

    THE open Rock museum, set up with the aim to educate and enlighten the masses about several lesser-known facts, displays around 35 different types of rocks from different parts of India with ages ranging from 3.3 billion years to around 55 million years of the earth's history. These rocks also represent the deepest part of the earth up to 175 km of distance from the surface of the earth. The rocks have been sourced from Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and others.

    The country is celebrating 75 years of Independence and CSIR celebrating 80 years, so it is the right time for all integrate synergies to make the country self-reliant in many sectors. About 75 science museums will be coming up in association with the Ministry of Culture. A special theme of NGRI's 75 achievements in its 60 year history. The Institute's future research efforts designed for 'Deep-Earth' and 'Near-surface' explorations are critical to understand the processes responsible for shaping the earth's structure, dynamic and sustenance of lif. The mapping of groundwater sources in arid regions will help in utilising the ground-water for drinking purposes. "Big Earth data" occupies the strategic high ground in the era of knowledge economies and India is fully exploiting this new frontier contributing to the advancement of Earth science.

    Science blended with creative innovations brings "ease of living" for the common man and scientists should adopt out-of-the-box thinking to address the problems of the common public; and should continuously be involved in providing the best science and technology solutions. When the country is celebrating "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav", India should strive to be a global leader in matters ranging from defence to economics with strong scientific and technological inputs in another 25 years when India celebrates 100 years of independence.