Adozen dinosaurs, including a nearly 12-ft tall Tyrannosaurus that will grunt a welcome, are set to enthrall visitors at the revamped Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre in Kotturpuram, popularly known as the Birla planetarium.

“The dinosaur models, in fibre glass, will not just make sounds but also move their necks and shake their tails. It will literally be one-ofa-kind, just like parks abroad,” said executive director P Iyamperumal.

The dinosaurs are part of the new ‘evolution of life’ park that will open on February 28, National Science Day. Explaining the evolution, “the completely weatherproof fibre glass models along with others will depict sea life, monkeys and the first man,” said Iyamperumal.

Each model will have boards containing a brief history of the species, the period it existed and the reasons it became extinct. “The dinosaur models will be placed in enclosures and the machines will be operated only by our staff, so maintenance will not be a problem,” said Iyamperumal.

Elsewhere in the refurbished planetarium, set up 20 years ago, will be new mathematical and biodiversity galleries with touchscreen monitors and DNA exhibits, while the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) gallery will house models of the SLV, PSLV and GSLV rockets the country has launched so far.

“We want to exhibit what the country has achieved in the space field. It will be in such a way that the visitors can look in and understand the mechanism of a rocket,” said Iyamperumal.

Any visitor who has missed watching the Army’s display of might at the Republic Day parade is sure to be thrilled by the exhibits in the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) section.

“It will display some of the Army’s prestigious surface-tosurface and land missiles as well as various types of guns and tanks. The tanks factory will help us with display of the concept behind the tanks and how they are made,” said Iyamperumal.

Officials hope to connect with more action-loving children through this gallery. All the new galleries are expected to come up by April.

The biodiversity gallery will have a large DNA model and touchscreen monitors explaining facts like cell multiplication, preparation of medicines, RNA models and how they influence human genetics.

The authorities are trying different methods to operate interactive mechanisms and display exhibits, in a bid to minimize maintenance. Work on installing infrared sensors for all the touch interactive models is on.

“A visitor just has to run his/ her hand over the model and the sensor will help bring it to life. They don’t have to touch or press anything, and the exhibits will be safe,” said Iyamperumal.

An offline system, where a television fitted near a section will constantly read out details of a phenomenon or mechanism, is also being tried out.

- times of india