99th Indian Science Congress in Bhubaneswar Focus On Inclusive Development
Our scientists delivered Green
Revolution and White Revolution; by launching Chandrayan we found water
in space; we are now witnessing a reverse brain drain; our
infrastructure is growing in all sectors; we are good at pharmaceutical
science but due to lack of investments and policy direction, which is
largely directed towards urban areas, we lack in both volume and quality
in the field of science. The difference between public and private
sector is widening. In India, today 2/3rd of investments in science and
technology come from government and 1/3rd from the private sector,
whereas more investments should come from the private sector. Amidst all
these we need to concentrate and focus on food security, health
security and defence security for the nation and with science and
technology we will be able to progress. We should go for reforming the
entire science sector and there is a need to make this sector more
attractive destination for all. To ensure inclusive development, we have
to have new innovations and involvement of women. Our growth lies not
in investment banking but in science and technology. We need to pool
young talents, and encourage more competition among them.
These were few observations and
reflections, which were made at the 99th Indian Science Congress, held
at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, from January 3 to 7, 2012, in
collaboration with NISER and Government of Odisha. The year 2012 being
celebrated as the Year of Science, the 99th Science Congress was
historical, as it ushered in the centenary year of Indian Science
Congress. All roads led to KIIT University in the first week of the New
Year as thousands of delegates from across the length and breadth of the
country and also from abroad thronged Bhubaneswar to participate in
this historic event. Bhubaneswar, the historic temple city, otherwise
known as the hub of Information Technology in Eastern India, hosted the
Congress after 35 years. This event coincided with the Diamond Jubilee
of UNESCO-Kalinga Award for popularisation of science, the prestigious
prize started with the generous support of Odisha’s great visionary
leader the late Biju Patnaik.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while
inaugurating the Science Congress said, “Over the past few decades,
India’s relative position in the world of science has been declining and
we have been overtaken by countries like China. Things are changing but
we cannot be satisfied with what has been achieved. We need to do much
more to change the face of Indian science. While it is true that science
and engineering continue to attract the best students, many of them
later opt for other careers because of poor prospects in science.”
Dr Singh further said, “As far as
resources are concerned, the fraction of GDP spent on R&D in India
has been too low and stagnant. We must aim to increase the total R&D
spend as a percentage of GDP to 2 per cent by the end of XII Plan
period from the current level of about 0.9 per cent. This can only be
achieved if industry, which contributes about one-third of the total
R&D expenditure today, increases its contribution. I believe public
sector undertakings especially in the energy sector should play a major
role in this expansion.”
In her opening address, Prof Geetha
Bali, President, Indian Science Congress Association, said that India
had the third largest scientific and technical manpower in the world and
represented one of the world’s largest systems for generation of
creative science & technologies. “With six major science
departments, 400 national R&D centres, more than 500 universities
churning out graduates and doctorates and nearly 2000 in-house R&D
units in Industry, India has one of the finest R &D infrastructures
in the world. These institutions have written a number of success
stories. India undoubtedly has the ability to develop new and need-based
technologies,” said Prof Bali.
Prominent among the speakers were Union
Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Minister, Earth
Sciences, Ashwani Kumar, Governor of Odisha, Muralidhar Chandrkant
Bhandare, and Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik. On this
occasion, Prime Minister gave away prizes and felicitated 15 scientists
for their outstanding contribution in the field of science including two
tribals from Koraput. The prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award was given
to KIIT and KISS Founder and Convenor of ISC in Bhubaneswar Dr Achyuta
Samanta. Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS, has been elected
as a member of Executive Council (EC) for the Indian Science Congress
Association (ISCA). In the recently concluded election for the EC, Dr
Samanta secured highest number of votes to become the first Odiya to be
included in the Executive Council of ISCA. In the highest body ISCA only
10 members are elected from all over the country to take important
decisions on various activities relating to Science and Technology in
the country. Dr Samanta while talking to Uday India said: “with God’s
blessings the Indian Science Congress was a great success at KIIT. I am
proud that all the delegates were happy for the state of the art
arrangements.”
Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul
Kalam and Indian Ambassador in the USA, Nirupama Rao, inaugurated
Children Science Congress on January 3 and Women’s Science Congress on
January 5, which were held simultaneously with Science Congress.
ISCA introduced first Women’s Science
Congress to showcase the success of women scientists and how science and
technology could be used for the empowerment of women. Issue of giving
adequate support to women scientists was also discussed. Children
Science Congress was participated by children and school students from
all over the country. Dr Kalam said that students were world’s most
important resources. Child scientists presented and exhibited their
individual and group projects and were also awarded.
Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela was
also organised by Vigyan Prashar, a unit of Science and Technology
Department, GoI, during the ISC session which saw the screening of more
than 30 scientific films both fiction and non-fictional. At least ten
filmmakers were awarded in five different categories.
KIIT Campus was specially designed and
decorated to host the ISC. Besides the main venue, parallel sessions and
thematic sessions on 11 different subjects of science were organised at
different venues. An Odisha Mandap to showcase Odisha’s arts and
crafts, and an exhibition centre were also part of ISC, where country’s
military might was exhibited with advancement of our science and
technology.
The Indian Science Congress at
Bhubaneswar witnessed the participation of more than 15,000 registered
delegates including 200-odd delegates from abroad and 10 Nobel
Laureates. The special plenary sessions drew a large crowd as Noble
Laureates and prominent scientists delivered their speeches on a wide
range of topics from climate change to cancer stem cells.
By Sudarshan Chhotoray from Bhubaneswar
http://udayindia.in/2012/02/04/99th-indian-science-congress-in-bhubaneswar-focus-on-inclusive-development/
No comments:
Post a Comment