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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox museum
|name = Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre
|image =
|established = {{start date and age|1983||df=y}}
|location = Gandhi Mandapam Road, [[Kotturpuram]], [[Chennai]], [[India]]
|type = Science museum
|visitors = 500,000+ annually<ref name="TOI_2023">{{cite news | title = Science centre draws huge crowds | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/science-centre-draws-huge-crowds | newspaper = Times of India | date = 15 February 2023}}</ref>
|director =
|publictransit = [[Kasturba Nagar railway station|Kasturba Nagar MRTS station]]
|website = {{URL|http://tnstc.gov.in}}
}}

The '''Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre''' (TNSTC) is a [[science museum]] and educational institution in [[Chennai]], [[India]]. Established in 1983, it operates under the Government of Tamil Nadu's Department of Higher Education.<ref name="NCSM">{{cite web | title = Network of Science Centers | url = https://ncsm.gov.in/network-own-units | website = National Council of Science Museums | access-date = 2024-01-15}}</ref> The centre serves as a hub for science education and awareness, housing several major facilities including the Periyar Science and Technology Centre, the [[Birla Planetarium, Chennai|B. M. Birla Planetarium]], and various specialized galleries.<ref name="Culture">{{cite web | title = Science Centers/Cities | url = https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/sites/default/files/Schemes/ScienceEnglish.pdf | publisher = Ministry of Culture, Government of India | access-date = 2024-01-15}}</ref>

== Location ==
The centre is located on the Gandhi Mandapam Road in [[Kotturpuram]], adjacent to the [[Central Leather Research Institute]] campus.<ref name="Location">{{cite news | title = Science hub at your doorstep | newspaper = The Hindu | date = 12 January 2020}}</ref> It lies in the predominantly wooded [[Adyar (Chennai)|Adyar]]-[[Guindy]] region known as the ''Green Lungs of Chennai''. The nearest railway station is [[Kasturba Nagar railway station|Kasturba Nagar MRTS]], located about 1 km from the centre.

== History ==
The Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre was established in 1983 with financial assistance from the Government of Tamil Nadu. In 1988, the Periyar Science and Technology Centre was inaugurated as a major component of TNSTC, along with the B. M. Birla Planetarium.<ref name="Muthiah_2014">{{cite book | last = Muthiah| first = S. | author-link = S. Muthiah | title = Madras Rediscovered| publisher = EastWest | date = 2014 | location = Chennai | pages = 282 | isbn = 978-93-84030-28-5}}</ref>

In 2007, the centre expanded with the addition of the Solomon Victor Heart Museum.<ref name="Heart_Museum">{{cite news | title = Heart Museum inaugurated at Birla Planetarium | newspaper = The Hindu | date = 20 January 2007 | url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/heart-museum-inaugurated-at-birla-planetarium}}</ref> The museum was inaugurated on January 19, 2007, by [[Union Council of Ministers|Union Minister]] [[T. R. Baalu|T.R. Baalu]], featuring 'A Journey Through Time' exhibition in coordination with the Golden Heart Foundation, Chennai.

== Facilities ==

=== Periyar Science and Technology Centre ===
The Periyar Science and Technology Centre, operational since 1988, is the main exhibition complex within TNSTC.<ref name="NCSM"/> It houses multiple galleries and interactive exhibits focused on various aspects of science and technology.

=== Outdoor Parks ===
The centre maintains outdoor exhibition areas:<ref name="Parks">{{cite web |title=Outdoor Parks |url=http://tnstc.gov.in/parks |website=Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre}}</ref>
* Science Park with interactive exhibits
* Traffic Park
* Evolution Park

=== B. M. Birla Planetarium ===
The B. M. Birla Planetarium, inaugurated in 1988, is a major component of TNSTC.<ref name="Birla_1">{{cite news |date=7 December 2019 |title=Welcoming the future, honouring the past |newspaper=The Hindu |publisher=Kasturi & Sons |location=Chennai}}</ref> The planetarium features a 15-meter dome and seats 250 visitors. In 2019, after an 18-month renovation, the mechanical projector was replaced with a hybrid digital opto-mechanical projector offering 360-degree immersive video effects.<ref name="Renovation">{{cite news |date=8 April 2018 |title=Birla Planetarium gets a makeover |newspaper=DT Next |location=Chennai}}</ref>

The planetarium conducts regular shows in Tamil and English about astronomy and space science. Shows include topics such as the Solar System, sky and seasons, eclipses, Earth, Moon landing, comets, meteoroids, stellar cycle and the deep sky. The decommissioned original mechanical projector, nicknamed "The Resting Giant," remains on display within the campus after serving an estimated 6 million visitors.<ref name="Birla_1"/>

The planetarium offers several extension activities:<ref name="Activities">{{cite web | title = Extension Activities | website = Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre | url = http://tnstc.gov.in/activities}}</ref>
* Meet Your Scientist program
* Night Sky Observation sessions
* Live Science Demonstrations
* Meet Your Medical Expert sessions
* Science On Wheels mobile outreach
* Student Projects
* Courses and Training Programs
* Foreign Collaborative Programs

=== Halls of Science ===
The centre features several specialized galleries and exhibition spaces:<ref name="Galleries">{{cite web | title = Science Galleries | website = Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre | url = http://tnstc.gov.in/galleries | access-date = 2024-01-15}}</ref>
* Periyar Gallery
* Defence Research Gallery
* Electronics & Communication Gallery
* Ocean Gallery
* Transport Gallery
* Life Science Gallery
* Innovation Hub Gallery
* Fun Mirrors Gallery
* India in Space Gallery
* Ramanujan Math Gallery
* Science on a Sphere
* 3D Science Theatre
* Hall of Nuclear Power

==== Solomon Victor Heart Museum ====
Part of the 'Halls of Science', this museum displays preserved hearts of various animals including whales and elephants, demonstrating cardiac evolution.<ref name="Heart_Museum" /> The exhibition helps visitors understand the comparative anatomy of hearts across different species.
[[File:Heart of Human Featus.jpg|thumb|The "Heart of a Human Fetus" is a preserved specimen housed within the Solomon Victor Heart Museum at the B.M. Birla Planetarium in Chennai, India.]]

=== Educational Programs ===
TNSTC conducts various educational activities:<ref name="TNGOVT">{{cite web |date=2023 |title=Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre |url=https://www.tndte.gov.in/institutions/tnstc |website=Department of Higher Education, Government of Tamil Nadu}}</ref>
* Science workshops for students
* Teacher training programs
* Science competitions and fairs
* Regular lectures and demonstrations
* Special programs during National Science Day

== Branches ==
The centre has established branches in [[Coimbatore]], [[Vellore]] and [[Tiruchirapalli]].<ref name="Branches">{{cite web | title = TNSTC Branches | website = Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre | url = http://tnstc.gov.in/branches}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of science museums|Science museums in India]]
* [[List of museums in India]]
* [[List of science centers in India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre}}
* [http://tnstc.gov.in/ Official website]

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[[Category:Museums in Chennai]]
[[Category:Science museums in India]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1983]]
[[Category:Education in Chennai]]
[[Category:Planetaria in India]]

Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre - Revision history

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