Translating the language of science

Mathematics and Science are two school subjects that many a student has quite a bit of trouble with. But realising that these same subjects could be made easier to relate to if they were explained in a more student friendly manner is Prof. Rajshree Bandodkar Karapurkar. Once she understood the difficulties her Std 11 and 12 students were facing in understanding the concepts in English, Rajshree devised a way to not only make the subjects more relatable but to also inculcate a love for science within her students. She did this by putting together a number of illustrative books and videos.

Having completed her BSc at Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar and MSc at Goa University, Rajshree has been teaching for the past 24 years and she chose the Class 11 and 12 students for a reason. “I find the Class 11 and 12 students very inquisitive, eager to gather more information. I chose to teach at the Physics at Ponda Education Society, Farmagudi because I was born and brought up in Panjim but my grandparents came from Ponda and I wanted to educate the village kids,” says the professor who has been popularising science through books and short educational films since 2000.

Motivated by Jayant Narlikar, an Indian astrophysicist, Rajshree released her first book in Konkani, ‘Vigyan Yogi’, which was a book on the life history of 24 physicists, in 2005. The book was referred to not just the higher secondary students but also students from Stds 8, 9 and 10 for their assignments and projects as it explained many laws of physics. “Professor Narlikar encouraged me to write in Konkani as he said that there has to be someone who takes the lead in promoting Science in the regional language.”

Her second book was ‘Saimakaden Samvad’ (dialogue with nature), a Konkani illustrated book for children. This was followed by ‘Malabakaden Samvad’ (dialogue with the elements in space), a Konkani illustrated (colour) book, ‘Space Talks’, a book in English on space for children, ‘Taranchya Vanat Swapnanchi Sahal’, a Marathi book, and the recently released ‘Chitkulya Chinkichye Vishal Vishv', a Konkani book on ants and environment. She has also directed Konkani animation films – ‘Saimakaden Samvad’ on environment and ‘Bondla Zoo’, directed for the Department of Forest, Government of Goa. Another animation film created by her for the National Academy of Vector Borne Diseases and Goa University was ‘Mosquito control! I can do it....’.

Rajshree wants to work on more films in the future. “I don’t follow the book sales but I want the students to understand science through the language they are comfortable with and which language is better than their own mother tongue? The words or concepts can be the same in English but the theory has to be explained well before they can translate it back to English for their exams,” says Rajshree.

With years of experience as a professor, Rajshree enjoys interacting with her students, even the ex-students. “They love to see me and though they now have families of their own, they will still hug me and introduce me to their family. Some students have become science teachers, some are working as engineers abroad while others are researchers in Physics. What makes me more happy than their success is their journey and how they developed a love for the subject and went on to make a career out of it,” says this accomplished professor.  

“I believe that teachers have to make the subject interesting for the students and I still plan out the way in which I will introduce a concept in class. I usually use current news or programmes on TV and then connect it to physics,” says Rajshree. 

The next project Rajshree is working on is a book on Einstein. “I have been working on it for many years but I will finalise the script very soon,” she concludes.