The National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) which is catalysed and supported by Rastriya Vigyan Evam Prodyogiki Sanchar Parishad (RVPSP), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, has been a unique movement of science popularization in our country, infusing scientific temper, spirit of scientific enquiry and research through systematic observation and analysis among childrens in the age group of 10-17 years. The programme launched in the year 1993 as an annual event, and implemented by the NCSTC-Network has over the years, have generated batches of young scientists, who have demonstrated their ability to pursue research and investigative projects on subjects and problems of local and national relevance, specifically on a chosen focal theme.

The focal theme for NCSC 2008 is ‘Planet Earth Our Home: Explore, Care and Share’, coinciding with the ‘International Year of Planet Earth (2007-2009)’ proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. With the explosion of human population on the planet earth, the only planet to own knowledge that sustains variety of life forms including human beings, a stage has come to ponder over a variety of threats to the sustainability of the life supporting systems and ecological balance to support interdependence among life forms and ecosystems. Impact of global warming due to excessive emission of green house gases with its attended consequences on agriculture, biodiversity and natural hazards, combined with the adverse impacts on air, water and land systems due to our life style and other developmental activities have posed challenges that need deep understanding of the earth systems of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, etc, and the inculcate among our children the kind of scientific methodology and approach towards anesting the adverse impacts on these systems. It is with such aims that the NCSTC-Network has mobilized groups of scientists in the expertise on different aspects, to prepare an Activity Guide for projects to be taken up by the children in such areas, and make them aware and interested in such issues through hands on and observational experience.

I wish to complement our scientists and experts who have spared their valuable time and efforts in preparing this activity guide book to our satisfaction. The Guide book besides providing a general understanding of the working of the select earth systems contains illustrative projects and also indicates evaluation criteria, that will be highly useful to teachers and experts who will guide the children in the selection of projects and methodology to be adopted. That will conform to appropriate yardsticks for evaluation.