PM sets science agenda

SHILPI SAMPAD

Governor MC Bhandare hands over the Vigyan Congress flame to members of the Union science and technology department at the closing ceremony of the 99th session of the science meet in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 7: The University of Calcutta, along with a few other research institutes of Bengal's capital city, would host the next session of the Indian Science Congress (ISC), which would coincide with its centenary. This announcement was made today on the final day of the 99th ISC here.

"For the centenary session, Calcutta University would be the chief host and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's has given consent to preside over the event," said Geetha Bali, general president of the 99th ISC. The first meeting of the Science Congress was held at Asiatic Society, Calcutta in January 1914.

Geetha said "science for shaping the future of India" has been tentatively decided as the focal theme for the next congress on the suggestion of the Prime Minister. "The theme would be finalised by end of this month," she said.

Some of the members of the ISC Association came up with suggestions for the next congress.

"The parallel sessions such as public lectures, panel discussions and other special talks during the congress must be reduced, so that one gets the opportunity to attend maximum number of sessions," said a professor from Pune, adding that more number of journals must be published during the congress.

Another delegate from Delhi said a special programme, Tribal Science Awareness Congress, must be organised while a few others suggested various themes for the 2013 session. "Instead of general topics, we must deliberate on crucial and specific issues such as food security versus fuel security," said B.H. Shrikanth from Karnataka.

Governor M.C. Bhandare and Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patasani attended today's function. Both stressed on encouraging women to pursue a career in science.

Earlier, Singh, while inaugurating the congress on Tuesday, had announced the launch of Disha — a scheme to help women scientists to relocate to other cities. Under this, the department of science and technology would create 1,000 contractual positions tenable in publicly funded institutions. A fellowship equivalent to the total emoluments of an in-service S&T professional would be provided when she moved from one station to another, he said.

This year, more than 15,000 delegates, including scientists from India and abroad, Nobel laureates, research scholars, corporate bigwigs and prominent personalities in the field of science and technology participated in the five-day event. The focal theme was Science and Technology for Inclusive Innovation: Role of Women.

Plenary sessions and special talks were held on topics such as climate change, food and water security, stem cell therapy, nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, space technology, ecological sustainability, rural livelihood security, clean energy, nano technology, advancements in pharmaceutical sciences, among others.

For the first time in the history of the ISC, a two-day women's science congress on the theme Women in science and science for women was organised to highlight the contribution of women for science and technology.

Renowned women scientists, including missile scientist Tessy Thomas, delivered lectures on the role of science and technology in empowering women, and ways of tapping their potential as innovators and as beneficiaries of innovations.

However, quite a few women scientists suggested that a separate science congress for women should be discontinued from the next year. "Instead of having a separate congress for women scientists, let us have at least two women speakers for every session of the next ISC," S&T department's head for equity, empowerment and development (seed) division Vinita Sharma suggested.

A children's science congress was also held in which the best two models by child scientists from every state was displayed. A science film festival, coordinated by Vigyan Prasar, had also been held over four days and the winners for best science films were awarded.