95th Indian Science Congress Inaugurated

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the 95th Indian Science Congress at Visakhapatnam today. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Manmohan Singh reiterated the Government’s commitment to invest more in science education. The Eleventh Five Year Plan is in fact a National Education Plan, the Prime Minister said. He stressed on the need for a global response, a national response and a local response to meet the challenge of climate change. Dr. Singh also urged the scientific community to tap into our traditional knowledge base, to develop environment-friendly and efficient technologies. (Full text of Prime Minister’s inaugural address available in the PIB release issued earlier today on the same topic.)

The Theme of the Science Congress this year is “ Knowledge Based Society using Environmentally Sustainable Science and Technology”

Addressing the gathering the Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Shri Kapil Sibal said a Centre for Climate Change, initially to be located within the campus of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune is being established to address the scientific issues related to Global Warming and Climate Change. Terming it a global problem requiring global solutions, the Minister said that these solutions should be inclusive benefiting and encompassing one and all. Stating that technology efficiency could eliminate the power shortages in the country, Shri Kapil Sibal urged upon the scientific community to increasingly assist and partner industry to develop and deploy more and more of alternate and renewable energy sources. He said the earlier we join the low carbon development trajectories, the greater the chances of sustainability. The Minister suggested that the development patterns in India could opt for innovations away from the energy-intensive “new world” pattern exemplified by the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In doing so, he said, we could become an important actor in energy-related research and development, as the markets for their applications have enormous potential. Shri Sibal shared with the audience his observation that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), one of the flexibility mechanisms incorporated into the Kyoto Protocol, offers great possibilities to India in helping mobilize foreign direct investment, by providing commercial incentives for the private sector to invest in mitigation projects and providing opportunities for the scientific community to team up with Indian industry for affordable and sustainable domestic solutions.

Prof. R. Ramamurthi, General President of the Indian Science Congress said that in spite of major efforts in farming sector, National Environment policy, National Biodiversity Authority, enhancing space technology applications in disaster mitigation, telemedicine, upgrading efforts in water security, energy options and knowledge transfer systems unable to bring more people above the poverty line. He said the present conference is aimed to address several thrust areas through plenary, symposia, panels and round table deliberations to make the world in general and India in particular a knowledge empowered society.

In his welcome address Prof.L.Venugopal Reddy,Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University said that the university has been continuously striving to keep pace with the advances in science and Technology and maintaining standards in teaching and research.

Besides a galaxy of Scientists from across the country and abroad, the Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, the Union Minister of state for Mines Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy and Union Minister of State for Defence Shri M.M. Pallam Raju were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister launched ‘Outreach Campaign’ logo and released its booklet. He also presented ISCA awards for 2007-2008 to the scientists. An Exhibition showcasing the achievements in Science and Technology was also organized to mark the event.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : January 03, 2008