By Gautam Samant
In India, the path to “success” has long been paved with high test scores. For decades, our education system has prioritized the “what”—memorizing definitions, formulas, and dates—over the “how” and “why.” It is a system heavily skewed toward rote learning, where the ability to reproduce theory on an exam sheet often outweighs the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world. Learning remains siloed; a computer science student rarely touches a soldering iron, and a biology student might never code a line of Python.
But the world is changing, and it is changing fast. We are standing on the precipice of the Artificial Intelligence era, a shift that threatens to render the “mug-up and vomit” model of education not just obsolete, but dangerous.
The AI Threat to Rote Learning
The rise of AI brings a stark reality check: if a job involves repetitive tasks or retrieving standardized information, an algorithm can likely do it faster and cheaper than a human.
A recent report highlights a concerning trend: 69% of formal sector jobs in India are susceptible to automation by 2030. The skills that once guaranteed a stable middle-class career—basic coding, data entry, and routine analysis—are becoming the domain of AI.
In this new landscape, the student who scored 98% by memorizing the textbook is at a disadvantage compared to the student who scored 70% but spent their weekends tinkering, breaking things, and building them back up. The future belongs to the hackers—those who can hack solutions, bridge disciplines, and think with their hands.
Bridging the Gap: The Role of Makerspaces
This is where organizations like Makerspace Belgaum become critical infrastructure for our city’s future.
A “Makerspace” is exactly what it sounds like: a collaborative workspace where people come together to make things. It bridges the chasm between theoretical knowledge (what you learn in a classroom) and practical application (what you need for a career).
Research supports this shift. Studies on “constructionism”—learning by making—show that students retain significantly more information when they actively construct their own understanding. By providing access to tools that are often missing from schools—3D printers, laser cutters, soldering stations, and woodworking tools—Makerspace Belgaum allows students to move from consumers of technology to creators of it.
Science Hack Day: Belagavi’s Festival of Innovation
Nothing exemplifies this spirit better than Science Hack Day (SHD) Belagavi.
As India’s only active Science Hack Day, this event puts Belagavi on the global map of innovation. Unlike a typical science fair where students present polished, pre-made models, SHD is a 36-hour marathon of messy, chaotic, and beautiful creation.
At SHD, a software engineer might team up with a biologist and an artist to build a DNA visualizer. A school student might work alongside a veteran mechanic to rebuild an engine. It creates a “cross-departmental” learning environment that our formal education system sorely lacks.
The impact is tangible:
Interdisciplinary Skills: Participants learn that real-world problems don’t come labeled as “Physics” or “Chemistry.” They are messy and require a mix of skills to solve.
Failure as a Feature: In school, failure is a red mark on a report card. At a hackathon, failure is just data. It teaches resilience—a soft skill that 91% of HR leaders say is becoming as important as technical ability.
Peer-to-Peer Learning: There are no teachers at the front of the room. Knowledge flows horizontally, from peer to peer, which has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to learn complex tasks.
The Way Forward
If we want Belagavi’s next generation to compete globally, we cannot rely solely on the syllabus. We need to encourage the “tinkerers.” We need to support parents who let their kids dismantle the radio to see how it works.
Events like Science Hack Day and hubs like Makerspace Belgaum aren’t just hobbies; they are lifeboats for the future of work. They remind us that while theory is valuable, the power to build is invaluable.
Get Involved:
Participate in or mentor at the next Science Hack Day.
Get your tickets for SHD India 2025 here. – https://konfhub.com/science-hack-day-india-2025
Visit Makerspace Belgaum to see how you can start building.
Encourage schools to adopt “tinkering labs” over pure lecture sessions.
Contact: Praveen: +91 94825 43803 | Gautam: +91 98454 70292