Calcutta, April 1: Noted educator Achyuta Samanta today assumed charge as president of the Indian Science Congress Association.

Samanta, who is founder of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in Bhubaneswar, is the second person from Odisha to have graced the post, the first one being Prana Krushna Parija, a noted academician and former vice-chancellor of Utkal University.

Samanta had been elected to the position in January at the congress's 103rd session that took place in Mysore. He assumed office for the year 2017-18. The academician has been a member of the congress's executive council since 2011. Besides, he is from the science background having done his MSc in chemistry with specialisation in inorganic chemistry.

"I'm overwhelmed to have been elected for the prestigious post. Stalwarts such as Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee had graced the post. I, therefore, feel very honoured to have assumed the same and shall try my level best to promote and advance the cause of science across the country," said Samanta.

Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee was the president of the Indian Science Congress's inaugural session that was held in Calcutta in 1914.

Asked how he will manage to look after both KIIT and KISS as well as the apex science body's task, Samanta said: "It's an honorary post. However, there are challenges and we will overcome them."

As president, Samanta is supposed to hold an annual congress at a suitable place in the country. "Besides, I will have to ensure publication of the congress's proceedings, journals and transactions as may be considered desirable," he said.

The Indian Science Congress Association is an organisation with its headquarters in Calcutta. It started in 1914 in the city, and it meets annually in the first week of January. It has a membership of more than 30,000 scientists.

Among the dignitaries was present KIIT vice-chancellor P.P. Mathur, who has also been elected as the general secretary (scientific affairs) of the apex science body for three years (2016-19).

"It is rare for two persons from a single university to be elected as president and general secretary of the apex science body, which is the oldest association of science academicians and scientists of the country," said Samanta.