The 4th India International Science Festival (IISF) which started with huge participation of scientists, students and experts, called for encouraging youth to engage with science and hailed them to innovate for social and economic development of the country.
Addressing Young Scientist’s Conference, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Science & Technology said that young scientists can play an important role in realizing the dream of making a New India. He emphasized the role of Science & Technology in resolving social problems and contributing towards social and economic progress.
The IISF is being attended by around 5000 students (including 200 from the North East Region), 550 teachers from across India and several scientists from India and abroad.
Dr Harsh Vardhan urged young scientists to work with a dream, zeal, invent and innovate to serve the society and be part of the growth of the country. He emphasized the importance of encouraging the young minds towards the field of science and promoting the networking of stakeholders working towards the propagation of science.
The main aim of the two day Young Scientist’s Conference was to deliberate on ways to provide an enabling ecosystem for young scientists to discuss and present their research findings and innovative ideas.
Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology said that the event brings together the young scientists across disciplines of science to share their ideas with the senior scientists. “Young scientists can play major role in the development of society through Science & Technology interventions,” she added.
Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology stressed that young people have new energy and enthusiasm to do new things in Science & Technology and this can be harnessed for the benefit of society.
The Young Scientists Conference included plenary, oral and poster presentations. The poster presentations displayed a range of new ideas in various frontier areas of science that are linked to national flagship programmes such as Make in India, Digital India, Swachh Bharat, Swasth Bharat, Biodiversity and Environment.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated few of other major events at the four day science festival in Lucknow including Global Indian Science & Technology Stakeholders’ Meet (GIST) and the Mega Science, Technology & Industry Expo. IISF-2018 with its focal theme “Science for Transformation” has organised 23 special events in its 4th edition.
The session titled “Nav Bharat Nirman” or the creation of new India focused on the innovative methods and solutions to overcome India’s historical and social disadvantages along with problems created in the 21st century. In this session innovators presented their ideas, exchanged knowledge and expertise among themselves and discussed challenges which they could collectively overcome. Distributing prizes to the young innovators at the event Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that in the age of idea economy the most important coefficient is innovation coefficient and the government is fully committed towards supporting innovation.
