ICMR-NITM hosts two-day SHINE Open School Day for local students
The ICMR National Institute of Traditional Medicine (ICMR-NITM), Belagavi, on Wednesday concluded the two-day ICMR–SHINE (Science and Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers) Open School Day outreach programme, drawing substantial participation from schools and pre-university colleges across the city and surrounding areas.
According to an official release, the programme was held on Tuesday and Wednesday and saw the active involvement of over 1,000 students representing 13 schools and PU colleges. The event formed part of a pan-India initiative by the Indian Council of Medical Research aimed at familiarising students of classes 9 to 12 with biomedical and health research careers.
- Hands-on laboratory visits and guided demonstrations were organised to help students experience scientific processes.
- Interactions with researchers encouraged questioning and exploration of real-world health challenges.
- The outreach was complemented by a national-level student competition to solicit proposals addressing public health problems.
"Students actively engaged with scientists, asked questions, observed experimental procedures and demonstrated keen interest in understanding how scientific research contributes to addressing real-world health challenges," the release said.
Local reach and parallel activity in Raichur
The SHINE event at Belagavi was the larger of two regional activities cited in the release. A similar programme at the Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU), Sirwar in Raichur district, drew about 200 students from nearby villages, demonstrating the initiative's wider outreach into semi-urban and rural schools.
| Location | Students | Institutions |
|---|---|---|
| ICMR-NITM, Belagavi | 1,000+ | 13 schools / PU colleges |
| MRHRU, Sirwar (Raichur) | ~200 | Nearby village schools |
Opportunities for students and next steps
As part of SHINE 2026, organisers launched a national student competition on 11 August. The competition invites students to develop and submit individual concept notes proposing solutions to identified public‑health problems. The release stated the competition will remain open until 11 September 2026.
Participants at the Belagavi event reportedly were more than passive observers; many engaged in detailed discussions with scientists, observed experimental protocols and explored how traditional-medicine research intersects with modern biomedical approaches. The structured interactions were intended to help students see research as a potential career pathway and to demystify laboratory work for school-aged learners.
Context for Belagavi and the region
The outreach in Belagavi underscores the growing role of city-based research institutions in regional science education. ICMR-NITM's location near Fort Lake and the Belagavi Fort area places it within easy reach of local schools, enabling practical exposure that complements classroom science. For many students from non-metropolitan backgrounds, such programmes provide rare opportunities to witness laboratory environments, instrumentation and organised research workflows.
Organisers emphasised that the SHINE initiative aims to broaden the pipeline of talent interested in health research, particularly from smaller cities and rural districts. The parallel activity at MRHRU Sirwar signals a coordinated effort to extend engagement beyond urban centres, reaching students who might otherwise lack access to organised laboratory visits.
School principals and teachers who accompanied students to the Belagavi event reportedly welcomed the hands-on format, saying it offered tangible insights for career guidance in science and health sectors. The national-level competition adds an applied dimension, allowing students to channel curiosity into concrete proposals that address public-health concerns.
With the submission window for the SHINE competition open until 11 September, local schools and student participants in Belagavi now have an opportunity to translate their observations and learning into formal entries for consideration at the national level, the release noted.
