106th Indian Science Congress Set to Begin

Jalandhar city in Punjab is all set to host the 106^th edition of the Indian Science Congress, which is beginning tomorrow and will go on until January 7.

The Congress, with the theme of ‘Future India: Science and Technology’, will feature a range of plenary sessions, invited talks as well as special sessions for women scientists and school children.

The participants include three Nobel Laureates and a host of top science policy makers, administrators, and scientists from a wide range of institutions such as Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Space Research Organisation, University Grants Commission, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and All India Council for Technical Education.

An official statement quoted Union Science and Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, as stating that “The focus of the Congress will be to showcase what is being done, what can be done and what would define the future of science and technology in the country”.

The Congress is designed to play an important role in stimulating scientific research and raise scientific temperament in the country. The Nobel Laureates participating are German-American biochemist Prof. Thomas Sudoph, who was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on vesicle trafficking, Hungarian-born Israeli biochemist and Nobel laureate in Chemistry Prof. Avram Hershko, and British-born physicist Frederick Duncan Michael Haldane who was awarded 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is slated to inaugurate the Congress. It is being held at Lovely Professional University on the outskirts of Jalandhar. Chancellor of the private university, Mr. Ashok Mittal said that a solar-powered driverless bus designed and created by engineering students of the university will ferry the Prime Minister to the venue.

A major attraction of the Congress will be an expo where Indian research institutions are showcasing their innovations as part of an effort to popularize science amongst the youth and the general public. Major exhibitors include Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Medical Research. (India Science Wire)

By Sunderarajan Padmanabhan

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