Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 29 (IANS) With the aim of ‘catching them young’, the Kerala government will invite around 3,500 school students to attend the Children’s Science Congress (CSC) here in January and listen to eminent scientists speak.

The Children’s Science Congress will be held alongside the 97th edition of the Indian Science Congress (ISC). The ISC is being hosted by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the University of Kerala. The state government has sanctioned Rs.3.50 crore for the event.

State Education Minister M.A. Baby told IANS: ‘This time we have decided to have more than 3,000 students from various schools in the state for the CSC.

‘This is part of the Inculcate Programme that the Kerala government has launched to inculcate fresh ideas of science into young minds at an early age,’ said Baby.

The event will be inaugurated by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Jan 4 and continue till Jan 7.

University of Kerala Vice-Chancellor A. Jayakrishnan said it was unfortunate that the number of students in the country enrolling to study science has fallen to the same level as in Africa.

Former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) G. Madhavan Nair told reporters here that the success of Chandrayaan-I, India’s maiden moon mission, has triggered interest in the minds of the young.

‘Not long ago when children were asked what their ambition was, there were no takers to become space scientists, but after Chandrayaan, things have changed. There is now a huge number who have decided to opt for science,’ said Nair.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the 97th edition of the ISC on Jan 3.

R. Neeta, convenor of the CSC, told IANS: ‘These young minds will be allowed to interact with eminent scientists, besides making their own presentations. Then they would be taken for field visits to the Space Museum and also witness a rocket launch.’