Mysuru :With focus on indigenous development, the 103rd edition of Indian Science Congress (ISC), the country’s largest science event, naugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today.
The annual five-day Congress is returning to Karnataka after a 13-year hiatus, with the decked up City of Palaces hosting the event after a gap of 34 years at a time when the University of Mysore is celebrating its Centenary.
The Congress, with the focal theme Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India, will be addressed by over 500 eminent scientists and experts, organisers said.
They said the Congress will comprise plenary sessions, Pride of India expo, Hall of Pride, genesis symposium, Vigyan Jyot, vision talks, women and children science congress, young scientists award, ISCA awards, science communicators meet and public lectures.
“The focal theme of this session, ‘Science and Technology for Indigenous Development in India’ is very relevant with the present scenario of the country, when our Honourable Prime Minister has rightfully raised the slogan of ‘Make in India’.
“I am sure that the 103rd annual session of the Congress will show endeavour to discuss about the various paths to achieve this goal,” Dr Ashok Kumar Saxena, General President of the Indian Science Congress Association has said in his message.
According to the organisers, the Congress will attract 15,000 delegates from across the country and abroad from leading research institutes, PSUs, universities and industry. Science exhibition Pride of India Expo, one of the biggest attractions, will showcase over 450 institutions from public and private sectors, displaying cutting edge innovations.
Welcoming the delegates and participants to the Congress Prof K S Rangappa Vice-Chancellor University of Mysore in his message has said “With nearly 20,000 brilliant brains converging at the 103rd Science Congress, I strongly believe that a roadmap for the indigenous Science and technology will be drawn more specifically to meet the societal expectation of our country.”
Soon after the inaugural session Bharat Ratna Prof CNR Rao will deliver Bharat Ratna Sir M Vishveshwarya Lecture on Doing Science in India.
Nobel laureates including Prof John B Gurdon, Prof David J Gross, Prof Serge Haroche; Fields medalist Prof Manjul Bhargava are expected to attend the Congress.
PTI