Interns @ TIIGS

Geography internships began in June 2013 and are progressing well. Here is some information. You, too, should get involved. Contact us to know how.

History:

In October 2012, The Hindu Educational Supplement carried an article on geography as an option for undergraduate and graduate study. A geography student from S P College, Pune, contacted TIIGS and expressed interest in working with the organization in some way. This pro-active young geographer visited Bangalore in January 2013 to explore possibilities.

In the meantime, Ms Vidya Shankar of Shriram Foundation had expressed interest in starting a GeoVidyaa Geography Centre (GVGC) at the Shriram Matriculation School in Thiruneermalai (near Chennai). The conversations with her led us to identify a space on the campus and to find an ally in Sri Murali Krishnan (Head, Learning & Development, Shriram Foundation). We had discussed internships as the way to go forward so that young geographers and geography enthusiasts would get involved in the process of developing innovative ways of geography teaching and learning.

The internship program was born.

Internships are on-going and we invite applications from all over the world. Download the internship application, complete it, and email it to us.

Here is an overview of the progress to date…

Internship at GVGC Thiruneermalai:

This Centre is at the campus of Shriram Matriculation School, Thiruneermalai, Tamil Nadu.

1 – 30 June 2013

Interns:

1. Padmini Murali (from Chromepet, who had just then finished her class 12 at Nedungayil Sankunni Narayanan Matriculation Higher Secondary School)
2. Kaivalya Behere,  3^rd year BSc, Geography, S P College, Pune; and
3. Suraj Kankatav, freshly graduated, MSc, Geography, S P College, Pune.

Output:

1. Several geomorphology samples from Tiruneermalai hill (which is just opposite to the school).
2. Photographs and video footage relating to geomorphology of Thiruneermalai hill.
3. Geomorphology and human settlement models, and a mapping exercise.

1 July – 31 July 2013

Intern:

Saurabh Kumbhare, 3^rd  year BA, Geography, S P College, Pune.

Output:

1. Several images collected from the internet to illustrate geography concepts
2. Regionalization and graphing of Chennai’s suburban railway network to illustrate variations in elevations along the network
3. Game to teach children directions and spatial relationships

These will be used to develop integrated curriculums for Shriram Matriculation School and other rural schools that we plan to reach out to in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, other parts of Tamil Nadu, and elsewhere.

Internship at GeoVidyaa Geography Centre of Excellence, Bangalore:

1 – 31 July 2013

This Centre is on the campus of the Army Public School. TIIGS and Army Public School, Bangalore started this, the first GeoVidyaa Centre in 2010.

Interns:

1. Anant Hariharan, 2^nd year IBDP, Canadian International School, Bangalore
2. Saloni Deshpande, 3^rd  year BSc, in Geography, S P College, Pune.
3. Dhritiraj Sengupta, 3^rd  year BA, in Geography, S P College, Pune.
4. Jayant Sonawane (Geography, S P College, Pune; internship and ongoing engagement beginning 20 July 2013; working online).
5. Phulkan Narzary (4^th semester, Geography, Cotton College, Guwahati; internship and ongoing engagement beginning 20 July 2013; working online from Guwahati)

Outputs:

Preparatory documents and recruitment efforts for National Geography Youth Summit – 2014 to be held at GeoVidyaa Geography Centre of Excellence, Army Public School campus, Bangalore, 9 – 11 June 2014.

This event will be the starting point for a long-term engagement with students and teachers of geography for bringing about positive changes in making geography relevant, exciting, and fun … geography education for 21^st century India.

These interns, and others, will continue their engagement with TIIGS. Thanks to all of you for your passionate engagement with the work!

Special thanks to:

• S P College, Pune for sending students so passionate about geography.
• Shriram Foundation for their enthusiastic support of the program at Thiruneermalai.
• Army Public School, Bangalore, for their committed support to promoting a new geography education.

Kaivalya shares his thoughts on his GeoVidyaa internship with TIIGS

Anant’s reflections on his GeoVidyaa internship with TIIGS.

Dhritiraj shares his experience and thoughts as a GeoVidyaa intern.

Saloni Desphande’s comments on her GeoVidyaa internship.