Around 800 students from nine schools, including government institutions, visited the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) in Tarnaka on Tuesday to gain firsthand exposure to scientific research during the first day of the two-day Science & Health Innovation for Nextgen Explorers (SHINE) Programme 2026.The programme was inaugurated by ICMR-NIN director Bharati Kulkarni in the presence of scientists, technical staff and teachers. The initiative aims to introduce schoolchildren to the fields of science, nutrition and public health through interactive learning experiences.Addressing the participants, Mr. Kulkarni underscored the importance of exposing children to science and research at an early age. She said programmes such as SHINE help foster curiosity, scientific temper and an appreciation of evidence-based approaches to health and nutrition.The event features a variety of interactive exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to make science engaging and accessible for young learners. Major attractions include nutrition games, diet surveys, demonstrations on detecting food adulteration using home-based techniques, work physiology demonstrations, period awareness sessions, anaemia testing, a mobile laboratory and food chemistry analyses.SHINE activities were also conducted at the Model Rural Health Research Units affiliated with ICMR-NIN at Janampet in Mahbubnagar district of Telangana and Chandragiri in Andhra Pradesh, said a press release. Published - August 11, 2026 08:39 pm IST