Spend one day
as a scientist,
every August at ICMR-NIRT.
Each year, students from nearby schools swap classrooms for the corridors of a working TB research institute — lab tours, live demonstrations, and a scientist's-eye view of the disease NIRT has studied since 1956.
Every breakthrough begins with a simple ‘what if’.
Making science come alive.
S.H.I.N.E. – Science and Health Innovation for the NextGen Explorers – is an ICMR initiative designed to ignite curiosity and inspire school students in Classes 9 to 12 to consider careers in biomedical research.
SHINE brings young minds into the heart of India's leading research institutes, allowing them to see impactful scientific work, experience research environments and interact directly with expert scientists.
The programme aims to nurture curiosity, scientific thinking and innovation among young students and encourage the next generation to contribute to India's health and life sciences research.
SHINE encourages students to ask questions, explore ideas and experience science first-hand.
Reaching young minds across Tamil Nadu.
Five stations.
One unforgettable day.
A SHINE Lab Day combines orientation, storytelling, laboratory exploration, research exhibitions and direct interaction with scientists.
Guided Laboratory Tours
Walk through working research laboratories and discover where biomedical science happens.
Research Exhibitions
Explore institute research and learn directly from the scientists behind the discoveries.
Poster Walks
Explore scientific posters and ask questions, challenge ideas and discuss research.
Video Presentations
Discover field studies, ongoing research and important health innovations through engaging visual presentations.
Live Demonstrations
Experience real scientific demonstrations and see instruments, experiments and laboratory techniques in action.
From curiosity to discovery.
The same five-part sequence runs at each location, morning and afternoon batches, to keep every group's interaction with scientists genuinely one-on-one.
Welcome & Orientation
A briefing from the Nodal Communication Officer, with a souvenir carrying the institute's logo for every student.
Storytelling Through Science
Short films and talks on NIRT's own research — from the 1956 home-treatment trial to today's shortened-regimen studies.
Hands-on Exploration
Guided laboratory tours and live demonstrations, with scientists on hand to answer questions as they came up.
Scientist Quiz Round
Teams named after TB research pioneers faced a panel of scientists and officials in a lively question-and-answer round.
Certificates & Closing
Every student left with a participation certificate — and, for many, a first real conversation with a working scientist.
Your first step into research.
SHINE is designed for school students who are curious about science, health and the world of biomedical research.
Secondary and senior secondary students.
Government, Government-aided and private schools.
There is no entry fee or participation charge.
Reaching students wherever ICMR-NIRT works.
ICMR-NIRT runs from a main campus and two field units. SHINE is expanding year on year to run at all three, bringing the same day of orientation, lab tours and scientist Q&A to schools in each location.
Chennai
Government, Government-aided and private school students move through orientation, storytelling through science and hands-on laboratory stations at the main campus.
Madurai
The Madurai field unit runs its own full-day programme, bringing SHINE to schools beyond the main campus.
Tiruvallur
The Tiruvallur field unit is being brought into the SHINE programme, extending the same day of hands-on science to more schools each year.
Discover the science
behind
tuberculosis research.
ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis is a leading research institute dedicated to tuberculosis and associated public-health challenges.
Explore ICMR-NIRT
What if your next
question changes the world?
SHINE is an invitation to explore, question and experience the world of biomedical research.
