There’s something called the India International Science Festival that showcases the scientific work done by the country. Into its 4th season, this one of a kind festival nurtures and develops the scientific work of the country. This year’s event will be held in Lucknow between 5-8 October, whose curtain raiser was completed on 14th September in Calcutta by the Hon’ble Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
What is it?
IISF is conceivably the biggest platform in India that brings together students, researchers, artists, and the general public to celebrate our nation’s achievements in science and technology. It is a medium to encourage the young minds towards the field of science and to promote the networking of stakeholders working towards the propagation of science. IISF-2018 with its focal theme “Science for Transformation” will have 23 special events (https://scienceindiafest.org).
IISF-2018 is expected to be represented by approximately 10000 delegates including 5000 students, 550 teachers, 200 students from North-East Region, 20 international delegates and approximately 200 startups. The delegates representing West Bengal and North East are from districts of Kolkata, Darjeeling, North 24 Pargana, South 24 Pargana, Howrah, Nadia, Hooghly, Imphal, Kohima, Guwahati, Tezpur, Itanagar, Churachandpur, Moirang, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching, Tawang, Pamuppare. West Siang, Upper Siang, Seppa, Lower Siang, East Siang, Longding, West Tripura, Aizawl, Gangtok, Shillong etc. and represent various local schools, colleges and Institutes like Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Indian Statistical Institute, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, Bose Institute, Calcutta University, North Eastern Hill University, IBSD, Assam Agriculture University, IIT, Guwahati, IIT, Kharagpur, Manipur University etc. The first and second IISF was held in New Delhi and the third in Chennai. Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences in association with Vijnana Bharti or VIBHA, is organizing the IISF-2018. As a prelude to the main event at Lucknow, Department of Biotechnology and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) will be organizing outreach programmes at eighty centers across the country. The first curtain raiser is being organized at Kolkata (Eastern zone) in which approximately 270 students, 20 teachers and more than 250 scientists and research scholars will participate representing different schools, colleges and institutions of the region.
What’s this session about?
Addressing a gathering of 300 participants comprising of students, scientists, research scholars and representatives from civil society in the presence of senior functionaries from Ministry of Science and Technology (DBT, DST, CSIR) and MoES along-with representatives of the Vijnana Bharati, the Minister highlighted the nature and theme of this session.
The theme of this edition of Science Festival is “Science for Transformation”. “During the past four years, science in India has undergone a sea-change – from fundamental science to application science, where science plays a leading role in societal transformation,” said Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. “Another major change in the last few years is bringing a synergy among scientific institutions collaborative research to address myriads of problems being faced by the society, as science has solution for major societal problems,” added Dr Harsh Vardhan.
The Role of Science
The Minister emphasized the role of science and technology in driving inclusive growth and urged the scientific organizations to work in close alignment and partnership with all stakeholders. He underscored the role played by various departments under Ministry of Science and Technology in developing frugal solutions for societal challenges and its role in driving development through energization of industrial clusters. The Hon’ble Minister reiterated government’s commitment to make science and technology as an enabler of social and economic progress for all sections of the population.
What are the events lined up?
- The Global Indian Science & Technology Stakeholders Meet (GIST)
- Industry-Academia Meet and Science & Technology for Harnessing Innovations (SATHI) – A National startup entrepreneurship summit
- Student Science Village
are some of the important events, being organized.
DNA Isolation World Record
The Science Village program is linked with the Pradhan Manthri Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to reach out to the rural masses and propagate science and for seeking scientific solutions to the diverse challenges facing our society, particularly rural India. North East Student’s Conclave will bring hundreds of innovative, dedicated, passionate and award winning students on a single platform to share their experiences and put forth the new dimensions of passion with science. As World record attempts have been a key part of IISF since 2015, in IISF 2018, a World Record attempt will be made to “isolate DNA” by 500 students from class 8th to 10th standard.
Women Scientists & Entrepreneurs
The special role of Women Scientists and Entrepreneurs in shaping the scientific growth trajectory will be another highlight of this Festival. The programme aspires to develop new entrepreneurship and explore new vistas of opportunities in the field of science and technology among the women. Approximately 800 women scientist/entrepreneurs will attend the event. There will be a special effort to engage with stakeholders of the Northeast and the aspirational districts. Another feature of IISF-2018 will be Mega Science and Industry Expo that will highlight the outstanding contributions of India in the field of science, technology, and industry.
Impacting Society
Building Partnerships Impacting Society is the theme for the “State S&T Ministers’ conclave”. Nav Bharat Nirman and the Science and Literary Festival are the other highlights of IISF 2018. This festival is expected to bring all stakeholders together to discuss the contributions of Science & Technology to the flagship programmes of the Government.
“Vigyan Se Vikas”
Through this festival, the largest of its kind in the country and in this region, it is expected that the message of Excitement of Science will be spread to the students and will be inspiring for the youth. All stakeholders will assemble to collectively work towards “Vigyan se Vikas”– contributing to the Making of a New India.
Source: Department of Biotechnology | Ministry of Science & Technology