Prime Minister inaugurates 105th Indian Science Congress; urges scientists to spend time with students
Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the five-day Indian Science Congress at Manipur University, Imphal on 16 March, 2018. The focal theme for 105th Indian Science Congress is “Reaching the Unreached through Science and Technology”. This year the focus will be on translational science for promoting affordable sustainable innovation.
Over 5,000 invitees are taking part, including 2,000 research scholars and scientists from all over the country. The highlights of the program include Children’s Science Congress, Women’s Science Congress, Science Communicator’s Meet and Science Exhibition.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 105th Indian Science Congress, the Prime Minister said that science has been synonymous with progress and prosperity from time immemorial. As the best scientific minds of our nation, all of you gathered here today are power-houses of knowledge, innovation and enterprise, and are best equipped to drive this change.
The Prime Minister stated that the time is ripe to redefine ‘R&D’ as ‘Research’ for the ‘Development’ of the nation – that is ‘R&D’ in the real sense. Science is after all, but a means to a far greater end – of making a difference in the lives of others, of furthering human progress and welfare. The time is also ripe, to commit ourselves to facilitate 'Ease of Living' for 125 crore Indians, through the power as well as potential of science and technology, Prime Minister added.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said that our scientific achievements need to be actively comunicated to the society. This will help inculcate scientific temper among the youth. It will also excite and attract our young minds to careers in science. We have to throw open our national institutions and laboratories to our children. I call upon scientists to develop an appropriate mechanism for interaction with school-going children. I also urge them, to spend 100 hours every year, with 100 students of Classes 10,11 and 12 discussing various aspects of science and technology.
Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the Government’s aim is to deliver the benefits of Science & Technology to the last man in the society. Dr. Vardhan pointed out that reaching the unreached and inclusion of the excluded are important components of this Government. “Given that, the theme of this Session “Reaching the Unreached through Science & Technology” is very appropriate”, he added.
Dr. Vardhan said that scientific temper has been a part of ancient Indian heritage and every achievement is a continuation of ancient India’s scientific achievements. He underlined that due to the efforts of scientists, India figures in top 10 positions in the world on various parameters. The Minister underlined that the process of “brain drain” has been reversed into “brain gain” with hundreds of scientists returning to serve the nation.
Dr. Vardhan emphasised the need to develop disruptive technologies, as only such steps will help ensure the growth of the economy. “In the last decade our contribution in research has trebled from Rs. 24, 000 crore to almost Rs. 85, 000 crore over the last 10 years”, he concluded.
Governor of Manipur Dr Najma Heptulla, MOS for the Ministry of DONER, Dr Jitendra Singh, Vice Chancellor of Manipur University, Prof. Adya Prasad Pandey were on the dais of the inaugural function. Prof. Achyuta Samanta, General President of ISCA gave the keynote address. Senior officials of the Union and State government, and scientists from the country and abroad also attended the inaugural function.
