Eco-Educational Hub – Prakriti Gyan Dham
Why in News?
- On 8 August 2026, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh dedicated Prakriti Gyan Dham, described as India’s first dedicated Eco-Educational Hub, to the nation at the Maharishi Parashar Bioresource Centre (MPBC), Banthra, Lucknow.
About Prakriti Gyan Dham
- Developed by: CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow, under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research.
- Core idea: It functions as a “living laboratory”, connecting scientific research with experiential learning, environmental awareness and public participation.
- Major focus areas: Biodiversity conservation, botanical heritage, ecological education, sustainable development and nature-based learning.
- The initiative aims to bring scientific institutions closer to society by demonstrating how research, technologies and scientific knowledge can address everyday environmental and livelihood challenges.
Key Features
- Experiential Learning: Provides students and visitors opportunities to understand ecology and biodiversity through direct interaction with nature rather than classroom-based learning alone.
- PAaVan Path: A dedicated nature-learning component designed to facilitate awareness about plants, biodiversity and ecological processes.
- Science–Society Connect: Creates a platform where students, researchers, educators and the public can interact with scientific institutions.
- Botanical Heritage: Promotes awareness and conservation of India’s rich plant diversity and traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity.
- Digital & Immersive Learning: Uses modern educational approaches to make environmental science more accessible and engaging.
Significance for India
- Environmental Literacy: Strengthens awareness of biodiversity, climate change and sustainable resource use among younger generations.
- Conservation: Helps transform biodiversity conservation from a purely institutional activity into a participatory public movement.
- NEP 2020 Linkage: Supports experiential, multidisciplinary and environment-oriented learning.
- Sustainable Development: Can contribute to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
- Science Communication: Demonstrates the shift from “science within laboratories” to “science for society”, a theme emphasised during its inauguration.
