It's quite astounding how, in a matter of only a few decades, Silicon Valley in Northern California became home to companies that are collectively valued at over $3 trillion. And a lot of credit for this goes to the spirit of innovation that Stanford University fostered in the area. But the early pioneers didn't work out of offices that resemble glass palaces. They hit upon an idea and saw it to fruition no matter what the circumstances. They worked in garages, in their backyards. They also transformed small rooms into tech labs. And in the process, they created such pioneering gadgets as the Intel 808 chip, the "world's first truly usable microprocessor", transforming the valley into the global tech and social media hub that it is today.

The point is that an idea can come from anyone, and innovation can take place anywhere, which is precisely what the authorities at Nehru Science Centre (NSC) are trying to drive home at the annual Innovation Festival that returns this weekend for its fifth edition. "The event is primarily aimed at students of Class 7 and above. There is generally a tendency among even bright children to think that discoveries and inventions are only meant for scientists and people sitting in glass houses. So, we wanted to create awareness about how there is a difference between innovation and invention. For, the former can come from anyone and everyone. Sometimes, it can also come from someone who isn't particularly educated, such as a farmer. And the important thing is to inculcate a habit of observing society. Can the kids identify problems and find solutions?" says Shivprasad Khened, director of NSC.