Indian Science Congress 2010

This is the link to my report in The Hindu dated January 3, 2010:
http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/03/stories/2010010360030500.htm

The challenge of taking S&T to the next stage
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The Indian Science Congress is an occasion for making a holistic review of the nation’s strengths in science and technology.
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The Indian Science Congress, the largest and most comprehensive annual science event in the country, is being held on the Kariavattom campus of the University of Kerala this time from January 3 to 7 at a crucial juncture in the country’s journey towards progress.

India has been recording a commendable growth rate over the last nearly one decade and is seen worldwide as a nation marching towards the status of an economic superpower. Even the resilience the country is showing in the face of the global economic crisis that began in 2007 is being seen as an indication of the irresistible momentum of the country’s march forward.

Admittedly, however, problems remain. A vast majority of the population is not part of this growth process and the disparity between the poor and the well-off is widening. In the years to follow, science and technology will have to play a bigger role than ever before in the history of the country to satisfy the twin-objective of keeping the growth momentum going and making the growth process an inclusive one.

According to former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and general chairman of the Indian Science Congress 2010, the task of streamlining the full power of the nation’s scientific intellect and resources to address the challenges ahead is an ambitious one. The nature of the challenges before the nation at this juncture is entirely different from what it had been before and the dimension of the challenges far bigger than it had been ever before. The scientists and policy makers of the country also have before them the task of calibrating the growth process keeping in mind issues such global warming and sustainability.

97th edition

The 97th edition of the Indian Science Congress, being organised under the aegis of the Indian Science Congress Association and hosted jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the University of Kerala, will be an occasion for making a holistic review of the nation’s strengths in science and technology, guiding the direction of future research and development and devising strategies for broad-basing the deployment of science and technology for the welfare of the people.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his inaugural address to the Science Congress on Sunday, is expected to give his overall vision on how to convert science and technology into a more powerful tool for the development of the country. Stalwart scientists, some of whom had helped evolve and steer the nation’s development initiatives over the past decades, the country’s highest policy-making people including the Secretaries of all departments related to science and technology, the people who hold the reins of all national institutions for research and development, young scientists who are to take the whole national programme forward in the coming years and more than 3,000 students and science teachers are attending the mega event.

The holding of the event in Thiruvananthapuram provides Kerala a wonderful opportunity, according to Vice Chancellor of the University of Kerala A. Jayakrishnan, who is also the co-chairman of the organising committee. He said it would surely inspire the young generation in the State. The most promising of the science students from all areas of the State had been selected to attend the Children’s Science Congress being organised as part of the main event and they would have space scientist and former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam addressing them.

An exhibition being organised in connection with the Indian Science Congress on the Kariavattom campus of the university also is designed to provide a comprehensive and inspiring picture of the country’s science and technology for the young generation.

P. Venugopal