India has made
significant strides in scientific and technological development by also becoming
the first nation to reach Mars in its maiden attempt. India is facing
various challenges and opportunities. Some of these important challenges are
in the key sectors of clean water & energy, food, environment, climate, and
healthcare. It
is important to translate the scientific knowledge into innovations through
start-ups and industry so as to facilitate India to achieve inclusive and
sustainable growth in the coming decades. This goal can be achieved, through
developing scientific temper among the masses and by strengthening India’s
science and technology institutions & furthering their basic research.
Emphasizing the
role of technologies and innovation, India has declared 2010-20 as the ‘Decade
of Innovation’. The Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth
Sciences, and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) have come together to organize The India
International Science Festival (IISF) every year, since 2015 to encourage
scientific temper among the masses and showcasing Indian contribution in the
field of S&T over the years. The previous two editions of IISF held
at New Delhi have been a great success.
The 3rd
edition of IISF 2017 will be held in Chennai during 13-16 October, 2017 at
various venues which include Anna University, Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Structural Engineering Research Centre
(SERC), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and IIT-Madras.
The prime
objective of the festival is to instill scientific temper among the masses and
showcasing India’s contribution in the field of S&T over the years. It aims
to build a strategy for rural India through the advancement of Science and
Technology. Further, the science festival also intends to make innovation
beneficial for the people and develop technology that is affordable to the
masses.
Major Activities during the Festival
will be:
1.
Special Thematic Session on 'Deep Ocean
Research'
2.
Science & Technology Minister’s
Conclave
3.
Sensitizing Youth to Flagship Programs
of Government (SYPOG)
4.
Science Village: Parliament to
Panchayat’’
5.
National Meet on ‘Social Organisations
and Institutions’: ‘Transforming India through Science & Technology’
6.
Women Scientists & Entrepreneur’s
Conclave
7.
National Science Teachers Workshops
(Focusing North East States)
8.
Industry Academia Interaction
9.
Mega Science,
Technology & Industry Expo
10. India International Science Festival
11. Grassroots Innovators Summit
12. National Start-up Summit
13. Round Table Meet on Mass Communication
14. World Record attempt will be made in "Largest Biology
Lesson"
15. National Level Competitions – Ideas
for Bharat Nirman
16. Outreach Programme in R&D Labs
17.
Satellite Seminars
18.
Cultural Events
The Govt of India is launching a
National Mission on Deep Ocean Research which will bring in huge economic
benefits by harnessing the ocean resources (water, energy and minerals). A special thematic session on Deep Ocean Research will be held.
The Scientific
departments and Ministries of the Government of India have active international
collaboration in science and technology both at the bilateral and regional
level. India is engaged in R&D cooperation with more than 44 countries
across the globe including advanced, emerging and developing nations. The
S&T Ministers Conclave at IISF-2017 will provide an opportunity to
exchange the scientific and technological priorities of the participating
countries that can help to develop a roadmap for S&T cooperation. This
roadmap can be used by all the S&T Departments to engage proactively with
each of these countries. The focus will be on capacity building through
mechanisms such as fellowships, internships, twinning, training, data sharing,
joint projects and technology transfer. The development and deployment of
affordable and innovative technologies that provide solution to societal
problems will also be a common agenda for the Conclave. Participation of
Ministers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Portugal are expected in the
Conclave.
‘Science for New
India’
aims to provides a platform to young students, scientists and technocrats from
across India for the exchange of knowledge & ideas in the line of flagship
programs like 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', ‘Swasth Bharat Abhiyan’, 'Make in
India', 'Digital India’, ‘Smart Villages’, 'Smart Cities’, 'Namami Gange',
'Unnath Bharath Abhiyan', etc.
An important
event of the IISF-2017 is the Science Village program which is linked with the Pradhan
Manthri Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to reach out to the rural masses and
propagate science to the extent of seeking scientific solutions to the diverse
challenges facing our society, particularly rural India.. Each Member of
Parliament will nominate 5 students from class 9th – 11th
and 1 teacher from their adopted village. The Science Village will thus
demonstrate a mass representation from the rural parts of India and a
continuation of the democratic process: ”Parliament to Panchayat”. The prime
goal of the science village is to give exposure to the students from rural
India and make them aware of India’s achievements in the frontier areas of
science & technology.
As a unique
programme of IISF 2017, a Women Scientists & Entrepreneur’s Conclave
titled “Game Changers Driving Science for New India” would be organized
to promote and encourage science education and entrepreneurship among the
women. The aim of the programme is to develop new entrepreneurship and also
explore new vistas of opportunities in the field of science and technology
among the women.
The Industry-Academia interaction meet aims at Industry – Academic Institutional tie ups in
R&D and achieving improved efficiency in production and manufacturing. The interaction will bring out a brief
proceeding on the recent paradigm changes in various sectors of Industry.
Representatives from industry and academia will also have a good opportunity to
discuss the changing trends on management principles,
scientific advancement and technological assimilation in industry and economy.
National
Innovation Foundation (NIF) will be organising the ‘Innovation Exhibition’ as a
part of the Grassroots Innovators Summit, which aims at providing a
common platform for various stakeholders—from innovators, students, researchers
to policy makers. About 100 innovative technologies from all states of the
country will be showcased at the exhibition. The special focus will be given to
those which could be diffused socially and generate employment.
The Round Table Meet on Mass Communication will address
the various methods and techniques to popularize science and its applications.
In the International Science Film Festival, Films on science focusing on
science fiction from India and abroad will be screened.
World record
attempts have been a key part of IISF since 2015; in IISF 2015, students took a
successful shot at the Guinness world record for the World's Largest Science
Lesson at IIT Delhi. In IISF 2016, at NPL, Pusa, a group of 550 students
attempted the world record for Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Nobel
Prize-winning scientist Albert Einstein. In IISF 2017, a World Record attempt
will be made in "Largest Biology Lesson". 1000 students from
Class 9th & 10th will be gathering at the venue in Chennai for this
attempt.
The IISF is not
only a celebration of science and technology through exhibitions and relevant
events, but also has been geared up to spread awareness on the flagship
programs like ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, ‘Swasth Bharat Abhiyan’, ‘Make in India’
and ‘Digital India’.
The Honourable
Vice President of India and many Union Ministers will be participating in
IISF-2017.
The IISF
will go a long way in delivering the
goal of imparting ‘spirit
of enquiry’ to the
public masses.
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