The Microbiologists Society of India (MSI) has launched an awareness campaign about the life and behaviour of viruses, their changing variants, and their effect on human health. A large number of schools and colleges have shown interest in inviting experts who are members of the society.
Dr Sanjeev Patankar, Coordinator of the MSI and President of Maharashtra and Goa units said that schools and colleges in rural areas have shown greater interest in informing their students about the virus. The studies in virology gained importance during the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the deaths of millions of people across the world. Earlier the school and college curriculum had a small reference to virology. Even in the curriculum of MBBS, the field was studied in depth.
With the efforts of MSI the study in virology has been incorporated even in courses related to Ayurved and Siddha Medicine. May general science colleges have introduced Microbiology as a subject for studies at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
Besides generating awareness about the field of viruses, Dr Patankar has also started informing the students about different fields in which the students can make a career.
MSI was formed much earlier. Their mission gained importance during the Covid-19 pandemic. It made several suggestions to the Government of India relating to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 virus.
MSI also started the publication of a calendar, which besides the dates provides information about scientists and their research in the field, along with their date of birth. 2024 is the third year of bringing out the calendar.
In collaboration with science colleges, MSI has started showing modern laboratories to school students. Information about animal cells, tissue cultures, the life of the virus etc is shown in laboratories in science colleges. In Nagpur, a few schools and colleges have started working on the mission. Prominent among them are Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, South Point School, Hislop College and others.
The mission not only helps to build inquisitive minds among school students but also helps them in thinking them differently. This mission also develops scientific temper among the students.