Societies and Activities
NEST Society
One of the biggest societies in School, the Nature, Engineering, Science and Technology (NEST) Society undertakes most of the science-related events at School. The society organises activities and student presentations on topics ranging from the recent developments in Starship to the Doon School campus’s biodiversity. In addition to this, the society regularly organises talks by prominent figures in the fields of science, alongside taking responsibility for organising celebrations such as World Wildlife Week and National Science Day.
The Chemistry STA
The Chemistry STA program, led by a Master-in-Charge, bridges the gap between learning about and creating chemical products. Chemistry STA aims to prepare a future generation of scientists by providing hands-on training and lab experience to amateur chemistry students. The Chemistry STA has undertaken projects like soap making and chocolate making to familiarise students with chemical processes and laboratory techniques.
The Astronomical Society
Founded in 1957, the Astronomical Society at Doon has fostered a deep sense of exploration of the cosmos among its members. The society achieves this through a variety of engaging activities, including presentations, meetings, and even regular screenings of events, the most recent being the Chandrayaan-3 landing. Their passion extends beyond the classroom, as evidenced by members who have visited the Kennedy Space Center and even captured celestial images using the online telescope service Slooh.com.
Sustainability at Doon
At Doon, sustainability initiatives are integrated into our daily routines, with an emphasis on simple yet effective methods to promote environmental stewardship. Simple efforts, such as encouraging digital communication and double-sided printing assist in reducing our environmental footprint. Waste management is addressed with recycling bins strategically located throughout campus to facilitate the separation of recyclable materials from general waste. We promote energy conservation by turning off lights and electronic devices when not in use and cultivating mindfulness in students and staff. Furthermore, our gardening group cares for on-campus green spaces, encouraging a connection with nature and preserving biodiversity. These little but substantial activities help to strengthen the School’s commitment to encouraging eco-friendly practices.
Bird Watching
Students carry out regular bird-watching sessions in the morning, and owling sessions in the night to observe the birds present on the School campus. Groups of students can be regularly observed strolling around the campus with cameras! The Cornell Lab of Ornithology recently started the Great Backyard Bird Count initiative, where the number of birds of different species in an area were catalogued. A similar action was undertaken from the 16th to the 19th of February, 2024, on our campus. Over four days, students and professionals were able to successfully identify and prepare a list of the diverse birds present in Chandbagh.
Aeromodelling
Doon’s popular Aeromodelling STA ignites a passion for aviation in students. Here, they not only build flyable replicas of aircraft but also delve deeper into the science behind flight. Senior students and masters guide them through the prototyping and construction of various projects; the program even ventures into aerodynamics and astrosystems, catering to students with a deeper interest in these fascinating fields.
Scientific Debates
Scientific Debates started in 2022, a unique collaboration between two of the largest societies of Doon, The Doon School Scientific Debate executed its 4th (Senior) and 5th (Junior) editions in 2023. While the senior students deliberated upon the timely issue of the use of Artificial Intelligence in academic writing, the junior students battled around the motion “This house will prioritise the study of natural sciences over other subjects in high school.”