Kohima: Zenwang Konyak is fighting to keep practical science alive in Nagaland. As the founder of Zen Scientific, he runs summer camps that bring microscopy, robotics, and astronomy to children in Mon district. The 2024 debut featured 38 students from nine different schools. Many schools lack expensive labs, so these workshops fill a major gap. Students learn to build water rockets and robotic cars.
The path was not easy. Only five students registered one week before the launch. Konyak rallied friends and family to recruit more participants. He said, "I wanted to teach students how fun science can be with full of activities."
Konyak graduated from Holy Angels School and Government Higher Secondary School before earning degrees from Kohima Science College and Nagaland University. He is currently pursuing a PhD. His childhood involved dismantling and repairing objects. He initially wanted to be an engineer.
Support for the camp comes from various sources. The Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre provided lab setup assistance. Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Minister P Paiwang Konyak offered financial aid. Borosil donated a MiniLab. The Botany and Zoology departments at Kohima Science College gave specimens. NagaBots Pvt Ltd provided free training. The Nangtan Students Union also backed the project.
The second edition runs July 14 to 15 in Nangtan village, Tizit. The program now features advanced robotics, telescope sessions, and new chemistry experiments. Funding remains tight. Konyak relies on registration fees and donations. He launched a "Sponsor a Young Scientist" campaign to cover costs for needy students. He operates out of a temporary space because he cannot find funding for a permanent laboratory building. Konyak wants to expand this model to other districts to help the entire state.
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