DNA Club Program

Introduction

The great variety of life on earth that has provided humans with all their needs since time immemorial forms a support system which has been used by civilizations for their growth and development. Our dependence on nature is so great that man cannot continue to live without protecting the earth's environmental resources.

Understanding the organization of plants and animals has helped in utilizing the earth’s biological wealth for the benefit of humanity and has been integral to the process of ‘development’. This includes better health care, better crops and the use of these life forms as raw material for industrial growth.

Biotechnology has emerged as an area of the future in recent years with immense potential to bring about human welfare and prosperity. It touches human existence in all its dimensions.

The children of today are the citizens and in many cases policy makers of tomorrow. It is important to inculcate in them an ethos of responsibility towards bio resources. Starting a program like the DNA Club program that seeks to proactively involve school children into a process that enhances the development of a better understanding of bio-resources and the role biotechnology can play in their sustainable management and utilization is a small but important step in this direction.

Objectives

To promote interest and knowledge about natural resources and the environment among the emerging generation.
To foster concern to protect bio resources and natural heritage
To increase awareness of the economic, cultural, scientific and aesthetic values of flora and fauna.
To provide opportunities to acquire values and skills needed to protect and improve the natural environment.
To make aware the impact that emerging technologies (including biotechnology) have on maintenance and enhancement of bio resources.

The Institute of Environment Education and Research, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) (BVEER) has been appointed as the Regional Resource Agency for the DNA Club Program by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India for the states of Maharashtra and Goa.

Design of the Program

The program includes the following components:

Teacher Training Workshops
School based programs
Vacation Training Programs
Support through locale specific material
Regular monitoring and evaluation

Implementation of the Program

Details of modules conducted in the schools

The DNA Schools

DNA Club Schools - Maharashtra

S. No.	Name of the school	Name of the Principal/Headmaster	Name of the teachers
1a.	Abhinav Vidyalay English Medium Primary School	Mrs. Madhuri Jeurkar	Nilima Bhandarkar Mugdha Vinod
1b.	Abhinav Vidyalay English Medium High School	Mrs. Jayashree Pai	Charu Mathur Vandana Bhagat
2.	Dr. Annasaheb Chobe High School	Mrs. Helen Anthony	Nidhi Samant Nutan Kamble
3.	AES Ashokbhau Firodiya English Medium School	Mr. Nandkishor Bhavsar	Sailesh Vaishali Wagh
4.	Holy Cross English High School	Sr. Jenifer Ferrero	Mukund Phulgirkar Mahesh Shrisunder
5.	Little Flower High School	Fr. Walter Gonsalves	Rosemary Fernandes James
6.	St. Lawrence High School	Ms. Nalini Datta	Aruna Luthra Nirmala Dhuria
7.	Horizon Academy	Mrs. Kumudini Bangera	Kumudini Bangera Trupti Gite
8.	Bhavarilal Samra English High School	Mr. Mohan Rathi	Shubhangi Bahad Tessy George
9.	D.A. V. English School	Mr. Gopal Gawande	Rashmi Shende Sunanda Sontakke
10.	Khandelwal English School	Mrs. Geeta Chandawankar	Geeta Chandawankar Pradeep Kidile
11.	B.V. Kanya Shala	Dr. (Mrs.) Sindhu Kulkarni	Shyamala Lokare
12	Dr. D. R. Nagarkar Prashala	Mrs. Vaishali Kulkarni	Mrs. Dange
13	Maharshee Karve Stri Shikshan Santha’s Vidyapeeth High School	Mr. Bhadakwad	Shubha Joshi Mr. Kamble
14	Maharshee Karve Stri Shikshan Santha’s Shishu Vihar	Mrs. Manda Borane	Snehal Dikale
15	Maharshee Karve Stri Shikshan Santha’s Erandwane High School	Mrs. Anuradha Gokhale	Mrs. Balkawade
16	Maharshee Karve Stri Shikshan Santha’s Erandwane Primary School	Mrs Kharat
17	St. Hilda’s school	Mrs.Stela David	Rajlaxmi Naik

DNA Club Schools - Goa

S.No.	Name of the school	Name of the Principal	Name of the teachers
1.	Manovikas English Medium School	Mrs. Theresa Almeida	Latha Naik Juliet
2.	Bhatikar Model High School	Mrs. Revathi Kane	Aparna Naik Saluja Suhas
3.	A. J. De Almeida High School	Mrs. Vinaya Mavinkurve Headmistress Mrs. Savita D’Costa, Asst. Headmistress	Sushama Naik Shital Kesarkar
4.	S.S. Samiti’s Lokmanya Tilak Vidyalay	Mr. G.G. Deo	Shrikrishna Desai
5.	V.D. and S.V. Wagle High School	Mr. D.V. Talavnekar	Girish Nadkarni
6.	Sharada Mandir	Mrs. Nirmala Rebello	Anagha Mudholkar Geeta Hosangadi
7.	L.D. Samant Memorial High School	Mr. Rajkumar Desai	Sarika Gurav
8.	Amonkar’s New Goa High School	Mrs. Mabel deSa	Mabel deSa Salita Banaulikar
9.	Shri Shraddhanand Vidyalaya	Mr. Madhukar Shingwi	Ram Mahale
10.	Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya	Mr. R.S. Naik	Vijay Bhondave Sanjeet Singh