Birla Industrial & Technological Museum (BITM) in Kolkata, the first science museum in the country under the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, is engaged in popularizing and promoting science especially among the youth through various interactive models, exhibitions, educational programmes and activities throughout the year.

BITM facilities are specifically designed to augment the learning curves of the students not only on curricular concepts in basic physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, electricity, electronics etc., but also on current topics of interest in science & technology and related social issues. We also offer a number of very educative and exciting science shows for organized groups.

Digital Adventure Gallery

Do you like to stand on a glacier in Iceland and mingle with the penguins moving around? Or maybe you would like to pat a dolphin as it jumps out of water and comes to you. Sounds funny and ridiculous! Come to BITM and visit the new Digital Adventure Gallery, and see how these are made possible. Here, a lot of excitement awaits you, and some of them, which you have simply dreamt of in fantasy, will virtually come true. Set up on an area of 2500 sq.ft, this gallery takes you on a thrilling adventure using different vistas of digital technology with the primary objective of rendering an inclusive, adventurous and fun based experience to visitors.

Floor Area: 232 sq. m.

No. of Exhibits: 16

Loa

Fascinating Physics

Physics, the branch of science that aims at unravelling the mysteries of the physical world based on systematic observation, experimentation and mathematical logic, unfolds itself in a fascinating manner in BITM in the ‘Fascinating Physics’ Gallery. The classical physics section of this gallery has 28 interactive exhibits on Mechanics, Gravitation, Light and Electromagnetic Waves. The modern physics section of the gallery takes you to the microcosm of subatomic particles, to the mysteries of the universe of black holes and pulsars, to thesupercool region near absolute zero and to all such forbidden areas for ordinary human experience. The 38 exhibits with eye-catching visuals, working models, animations, video, multimedia, unmanned quiz and other presentation techniques make one’s experience enthralling.

Floor Area: 189 sq. m.

No. of Exhibits: 65

Transport

Therevamped thematic gallery on ‘Transport’ was opened to the public in 2008. Spread over an area of 500 sq.m. with 50 models and exhibits, the gallery portrays the development of transport system from the ‘Wheel’ to the ‘Supersonic Jet Engines’ through artefacts, models and interactive exhibits grouped under three sections: water transport, surface transport and airborne transport. A 1926 Rolls Royce Car and the Fiat Tipo used by the eminent scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose are among the star attractions of this gallery.

Motive Power

The gallery on ‘Motive Power’ depicts the story of how the ever-increasing need for power in human civilization over the ages led to the development of various methods and technologies in the power sector starting with use of animal power to harnessingwind power, waterpower, nuclear power etc. The gallery also depicts the history of development of various engines that are used in power generation and transmission.

Biotechnology

‘Biotechnology’ implies genetic manipulation of organisms to give them new capabilities or improved characteristics for the benefit of human beings directly or indirectly. Through arrays of interactive exhibit, this gallery makes this cutting-edge technology easy to understand.

Floor Area: 189 sq. m.
No. of Exhibits: 52

Mathematics Gallery

The new gallery on ‘Mathematics’ at BITM (inaugurated on May 8, 2010) is an attempt to present mathematical concepts in a simple manner and provide enjoyable learning experiences through models, working exhibits in order to create interest in the subject among the young generation so that they are able to pursue higher studies in pure sciences with greater confidence.

Supported mostly by interactive exhibits & graphical illustrations, the gallery effectively functionsas a mathematics laboratory which offers opportunity to visualize fundamental mathematical concepts, understand how these help us solve problems and appreciate the inner beauty of mathematics. Spread over an area of 300 sq.m with about 54 interactive exhibits, the thematic canvas of the gallery includes a brief history of numbers, number theory, positional number systems highlighting India’s seminal contribution in their development, basic arithmetical operations, geometry of plane and curved surfaces, solid geometry & conics, mathematical functions, probability & statistics, the basic ideas of calculus, mathematics in nature, and a variety of mathematical puzzles and brain-teasers for kids.

A ‘Math Demo Corner’ with facilities for conducting a class session on mathematics by the accompanying school teachers, and a ‘Children’s Activity Area’ add to the attraction of the gallery.

Floor Area: 475 sq. m.

No. of Exhibits: 45

Mathematics Demo Timing in the Gallery	11:30 am, 1:15 pm & 4:00 pm
Special Mathematics Demonstration for School Groups	On Request

Metals

Since the dawn of civilization, metals have played a key role in the modernization of human societies. Without effective utilization of metals, the spectacular engineering achievements of the present age would not have been possible. The Metals gallery of BITM depicts the story of the four most important metals – Copper, Zinc, Iron & Steel and Aluminium through interactive exhibits, diorama, animated panels and multimedia presentation.

Floor Area: 360 sq. m.

No. of Exhibits: 50

Popular Science

Fun, excitement and a lot of action is what this new gallery is all about in a nutshell. It is a place where every move of yours counts and every action you take is responded to. A truly interactive experience is what the gallery promises you.

Here science unfurls its underlying logic and principles as you tinker with the exhibits and play with the options they offer for interaction. It is where you catch science in live action and discover for yourself why things happen the way they do.

Electricity

A new Gallery on “Electricity” was inaugurated on the occasion of the 56th Anniversary of the Museum on 2nd May, 2015 by Shri Manish Gupta, the Hon’ble Minister for Power and Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of West Bengal.

Through numerous three dimensional interactive exhibits, the Electricity gallery unfolds the story of electricity – its different sources & forms, its applications in the industry as well as in our homes and its contribution to the development of today’s electricity-drivencivilization. The central attraction of the gallery is the ‘High Voltage Theatre’that demonstrates the magic of static electricity and provide the visitorsan exciting and unforgettable hair-raising experience.

Other exhibits in the gallery are Curie Point, Spinning Egg, Grand Shuttle, Alternate & Direct Current, Storage Cells and Batteries, Clean Energy Sources, Transmission Loss and transformers, Electrical Circuits and Safety, LCR Circuit, Saving Energy, Spark wheel, Van De Graff generator, Jumping Disc, Electromagnetic Induction etc. All these exhibits relates to the curriculum of students studyingin classes from IX to XII.

The Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation has contributed to this gallery by specially fabricating and donating a model on ‘Energizing the City of Joy’. The network of production, distribution and ultimate consumption of electricity supplied by CESC is exhibited through an expansive layout model and a large digital panel.

Regular High Voltage Show Timing

11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm & 4:30 pm

Television

The gallery on ‘Television’ depicts the chronological development of this revolutionary technology right from the early days of its introduction by the Scottish inventor John Logie Baird to its present form through 25 state-of-the-art interactive exhibits, models, diorama and artefacts in an educative and informative ambience.
A Television studio in the gallery host the highly entertaining ‘Chromakey Show’ demonstrating how one can appear to be flying in the sky using the chroma-keying technique.

Children’s Gallery

BITM inaugurated a new ‘Children’s Gallery’ on November 14, 2012 as part of the nationwide celebration of Children’s Day. The 4000 sq.ft. Gallery has seven sections, namely, Kid Zone, Learning Zone, Play Zone, Fun Zone, Mirror Zone, Assembly Zone and Ride Zone.The space is highly colourful and full of irresistible attractions for the children. Kid Zone, a special area for the ‘Tiny Tots’ is the star attraction of the gallery and allows the little ones unfurl their imaginations through role plays and creativeencounters with the very many soft toys and rides that populate the area.

Underground mock-up coal mine

If you have ever wondered what a coal-mine actually looks like and wanted to be inside one, then BITM is the only place where you can experience what it feels like being actually inside a coalmine.Inside the BITM’s Mock-Up Coal Mine, the only one of its kind in India, you get a rare and first-hand experience of how a real coal mine works. You understand how air circulation and illumination inside the mine is maintainedfor the miners to surviveand work in a dark and hostile environment. You can have an idea of the coal cutting methods – both manual and mechanical, andalso understand how coal is transported out of the mine, why the tunnel does not collapse after the excavation of coal, or what the safety measures are to prevent fire, flooding and collapsing of roof etc.The mock up coal mine brings to the visitors all such unknown, absorbing and unique facts of the subterranean world.

The Museum offers a 30 minute long guided tour of the Coal Mine in batches at every hour from 10:30 a.m. onwards (last show at 05:15 pm)

Floor Area: 475 sq. m.

No. of Exhibits: 65

World In Darkness

Making sense of our existence as human beings depends on our ability to form an idea about our surroundings based on what we see, hear, touch, smell, taste or feel. Most of it, however, comes through our ability to see things far & near. For many of us, the visual window to the outside world is forever closed. Yet, we need to form a worldview for ourselves, albeit in complete or partial darkness. Join us at BITM in exploring ‘A World in Darkness’.

This unique exhibition is specially designed for the visually challenged visitors with the objective of helping them effectively learn about the various facets of the planet we live in and the universe it belongs to.

Floor Area: 265 sq. m.

No. of Exhibits: 19

Virtual Tour