Bhubaneswar, Nov. 7: A ‘Vigyan Jyoti Rath’ would be flagged off on November 14 in the run up to the 99th Indian Science Congress. It would travel around 3000km across the state to popularise science among the youth.
The journey, scheduled to begin from Khandapada — the birthplace of famous Oriya astronomer Pathani Samanta — on November 14, will terminate at Ravenshaw University in Cuttack on December 3.
Governor M.C. Bhandare will flag off the chariot. It would travel to more than 600 schools and colleges across 30 districts in the state.
Fitted with banners about the Indian Science Congress, the mobile rath will carry leaflets mentioning details of the event.
It will be parked at select educational institutions in the districts for students to have a detailed look. The leaflets carrying the message of the Indian Science Congress session will serve as an invitation for the common masses, especially the students, to attend the mega scientific event to be held in the capital from January 3 to 7.
Arrangements have been made by the state government to ensure that at least 10,000 students visit the mega science event daily.
Their accommodation and food will be taken care of by the organisers.
Fourteen young scientists will be conferred the Young Scientists’ Programme award on the occasion.
The annual award felicitates young scientists and researchers below the age of 32 years. A panel of experts who met here recently selected the awardees after evaluating their research work and presentations.
Over 18,000 delegates from India and abroad, including 20 Nobel laureates, are expected to attend the five-day Indian Science Congress jointly organised by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (Niser) and KIIT University.
The Congress would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who would visit again on the concluding day to take over as the president of the next Science Congress.
For the first time, Children Science Congress and Women Science Congress would be held simultaneously during the event.
