ICMR-SHINE 2026: Inspiring School Students through Science, Health and Innovation

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ICMR-SHINE 2026: Inspiring School Students through Science, Health and Innovation National Science Outreach Initiative organized at ICMR- NIRBID, Mumbai, on 11 and 12 August प्रव तथ: 12 AUG 2026 7:31PM by PIB Mumbai Mumbai, 12 August 2026 The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) organized ICMR-SHINE 2026 (Science & Health Innovation for the Nextgen Explorers) on 11th and 12th August 2026 at ICMR- National Institute for Research on Blood and Immune Disorders (ICMR-NIRBID), Mumbai. The programme was aimed at connecting school students with the country’s biomedical research ecosystem and inspiring scientific curiosity, innovation and a deeper understanding of health and medical sciences.

The two-day programme provided students of Classes IXth to XIIth with an opportunity to experience biomedical research beyond the classroom and understand how scientific research contributes to addressing real-world health challenges.

A total of 193 students, comprising 89 boys and 104 girls, participated in the programme over the two days. On 11 August 2026, 50 students from PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya No.

1, Colaba, and 57 students from R.M. Bhatt High School, Parel, visited the Institute. On 12th August 2026, another 83 students from R.M. Bhatt High School, Parel, participated in the programme.

Unlike a conventional classroom lecture, SHINE 2026 encouraged students to observe, ask questions, participate in activities and understand the practical application of scientific concepts.

School students in Mumbai received firsthand experience of how scientists work in the field of blood and immune disorders; under #SHINE2026 at the @icmr_nirbi d.

This was followed by lab visits and interactions with scientists, technical staff & PhD scholars.

During these… pic.twitter.com/x3yeLGPips — PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) August 12, 2026During their visit, students received a first-hand introduction to how biomedical research is conducted, how sophisticated laboratory equipment is used and how research processes contribute to the development of faster, effective and cost-efficient diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, particularly for rare haematological and immunological disorders.

An important feature of the programme was the opportunity for students to interact directly with the Institute’s scientists, technical staff and PhD students. These interactions enabled students to gain deeper insights into laboratory practices, scientific concepts, research methodologies and the day-to-day life of researchers. Students were encouraged to ask questions about scientific research, higher education, career opportunities and the challenges and rewards associated with a career in biomedical sciences.

The programme incorporated several new elements, including interactions with scientists and technical staff, discussions with PhD students, hands-on exposure to equipment and laboratory procedures, infotainment-based games, AI-enabled videos, and activity-based learning.

The students were exposed to diverse career pathways including research, biotechnology, microbiology, haematology, immunology, public health, epidemiology, data science, bioinformatics and laboratory sciences.

School students from Mumbai visited @icmr_nirbid for an immersive experience in research on blood and immune disorders as part of #SHINE2026.

Here’s what one student had to say ⬇#SHINEAtICMR #ICMR pic.twitter.com/G8 9YNBNIUW — PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) August 12, 2026 During the programme, the announcement of the national-level competition on “Igniting Scientific Curiosity Among Youth for a Viksit Bharat 2047” was also presented.

The programme also reinforced the importance of exposing young students to actual scientific environments at an early stage. By witnessing laboratory processes and interacting with practising scientists, students were able to connect their classroom learning with real-world applications and gain a better understanding of how science contributes to diagnosis, treatment and the advancement of healthcare.

ICMR-SHINE 2026 at ICMR-NIRBID thus served as a meaningful platform for bridging the gap between classroom education and contemporary biomedical research. Through this initiative, ICMR-NIRBID reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers, innovators and scientific leaders.* * * PIB Mumbai | Nitin Fulluke/Darshana Rane

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