National Science Day to be celebrated as ‘Day of Inspiration’: Dr Harsh Vardhan
Hon’ble Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged that the National Science Day be celebrated in future as 'Day of Inspiration' and called for a ‘passion for science’ to evolve novel ideas to restore the glory of the country.
The event was organized to mark celebrations of the National Science Day 2017 by the Department of Science & Technology. The theme of NSD-2017 is “Science & Technology for Specially abled Persons’’.
The National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28th February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’, a Nobel Prize winning discovery by Sir C.V. Raman.
Dr Harsh Vardhan recalled the stark conditions in which the Nobel laureate Bharat Ratna Sir Chandrasekara Venkata Raman and other known scientists like Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose had worked to bring glory to the country and said that the futuristic vision that these Scientists had even holds good to this day. These Scientists had a passion to explore nature in spite of lack of support, proper facilities, funding, equipment etc. and due to their passion they excelled in the field and are recognised world over.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan was speaking after giving awards for outstanding contribution in the field for Communication of Science and Technology and promoting science for Nation Building for the year 2016 on the occasion of the National Science Day 2017 at the Raman Auditorium in Department of Science & Technology.
He said our scientists now have all the facilities, funding and capability to reshape the future of this nation with their powerful ideas and restore the glory that India had back for the country.
He suggested that National Science Day to be celebrated as “Day of Inspiration (Prerna Diwas)” and pass it on to all schools and colleges to work with a new zeal of knowledge and ideas.
Speaking on the occasion the Secretary Department of Science & Technology Prof. Ashutosh Sharma said the theme for this year National Science Day also indicates involvement and seriousness of DST to address the challenges being faced by the country through S&T interventions.
“On National Science Day we celebrate science communication and popularization of science and also celebration of defusing science in all its forms in society,” Prof Sharma added. He reminded the audience about the famous discovery namely “Raman Effect” by Noble laureate Dr. CV Raman, which is a huge source of motivation and inspiration for everyone.
The Minister presented national awards instituted in 1987 by the NCSTC to stimulate, encourage and recognize outstanding efforts in the area of science popularization and communication for promoting scientific temper in the country.
The Awardees for 2016 are:
| National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication The award consists of Rupees two lakhs, a memento and a citation | Kalinga Foundation Trust, Bhubaneswar Dr. M.V. Padma Srivastava, New Delhi |
| Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through print media including books and magazines
This Award consists of Rupees one lakh, a memento and a citation
| Dr. Ranjit Singh, PAU, Ludhiana Dr. Shubashree Desikan, Chennai |
| National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Popularization among children
This Award consists of Rupees one lakh, a memento and a citation.
| Delhi State Science Teachers Forum, Delhi Shri Padmalochan Pradhan, Balasore Shri Sanjay Bapurao Pujari, Satara
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| Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through innovative and traditional methods
This Award consists of Rupees one lakh, a memento and a citation.
| Dr Shally Awasthi |
| National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication in the electronic medium
This Award consists of Rupees one lakh, a memento and a citation. | Dr. Anil Kumar Tripathi, Lucknow Shri G.S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Thiruvananthapuram |
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