Bhubaneswar, Sept. 5: The 99th Indian Science Congress (ISC) from January 3 to 7 next year will be held in Bhubaneswar after a gap of 35 years.
The congress will for the first time have a session on women scientists. There will also be a session on budding and young scientists. Moreover, an exhibition will showcase scientific achievements.
The event described as — Mahakumbh of scientists and science enthusiasts — will attract around 15,000 scientists, 500 national and foreign delegates and 20 Nobel laureates. The focus areas would be climate change and food security, clean energy from renewable sources, space technology and human welfare, rural livelihood security, and recent development and applications in nano science and technology.
Deliberations on food and nutrition security, latest developments in de-addiction strategies, preventive maternal and child healthcare, tackling neuro-degenerative diseases, stem cell therapy, water scarcity to water security, green building technologies, technologies for the physically challenged and science education in rural areas will also take place.
The event returned to the capital city after 35 years. In 1977, Utkal University had played host to the 64th session of the science congress. The event was held under the presidential guidance of nuclear scientist H.N. Sethna. This time, however, the session will be jointly organised by the KIIT University and the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER).
Prof. Geetha Bali, vice-chancellor of Karnataka State Women’s University, Bijapur, will chair the session as general president.
Organisers from both the institutions said a Vigyan Jyoti Rath travelling from Puri to other district headquarters towns in Orissa to make the people, science enthusiasts and students aware about the upcoming event in Bhubaneswar. There will also be prizes for students who will take part in different competitions when the rath will tour the districts.
To encourage science writers, there would be a two-day session on science writing. The Vigyan Jyoti Rath is expected to promote interest in science among the people, especially students. The rath will help increase participation in the event. A venue with a seating capacity of 20,000 people would also be constructed.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the session on January 3 and he will return to Bhubaneswar to accept the charge of the general president–elect on January 7 for the 100th ISC.
NISER director Prof. T.K. Chandrasekhar said as Bhubaneswar had emerged as one of the institutional hubs in eastern India, hosting the 99th session of ISC would boost Orissa’s image in the scientific world.
Chief patron Achyuta Samanta of KIIT University said there would be a five-acre kiosk named “It is Orissa” dedicated to showcase culture, art, handicraft and food delicacies, so that the event could project an array of Oriya traditions at the ISC venue.
KIIT vice-chancellor Prof. A.S. Kolaskar said the women’s science congresswould showcase the women’s contributions in the field of science and technology.
