Science must be used for the betterment of society by bringing about improvement in lives of people said Dr. V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog during India International Science Festival (IISF-2021) outreach programme jointly organised by CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) and Vigyan Bharati Vidarbha Pradesh Mandal on Friday.
Dr Saraswat was the Chief Guest on this occasion and while addressing the programme he said “Science communication should be part of curriculum in schools and colleges, he added. He urged scientists to pursue basic science to solve problems of our society.
Describing various government initiatives, Dr. Saraswat specifically mentioned about Information Technology (Amendment) Bill 2020, scientific infrastructure development plans and CSIR technologies for rural development. He focused on the key areas to improve living standards including 12 disruptive technologies which will have enormous economic impact by 2025.
Narrating about smart grid vision for India he said that the Indian power sector is being transformed in to a secure, adaptive, sustainable ecosystem that provides reliable and quality energy for all with the active participation of stakeholders. Dr. Saraswat emphasized on the need to evolve strategies jointly by experts in the field, social activists, bureaucrats and public. He said that scientists should continuously create new knowledge for solving social problems.
Dr. V K Saraswat, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog was the Chief Guest on this occasion. Jayant Sahasrabudhe, National Organising Secretary, Vigyan Bharati (VIBHA) presided over the function. Dr. Satish Wate, Former Director, CSIR-NEERI; G P Kundargi, Former CMD, MOIL and Advisor, VIBHA; Dr. Atul N Vaidya, Director, CSIR-NEERI; Dr. S G Charalwar, Former Principal, Mohota College of Science, and Naresh Chafekar, Secretary, VIBHA Vidarbha Pradesh Mandal were prominently present on this occasion.
Delivering the presidential address, Jayant Sahasrabudhe, National Organising Secretary, Vigyan Bharati (VIBHA) briefed about the genesis of India International Science Festival (IISF). He informed that this time IISF-2021 will be held in both modes, i.e. direct and virtual. Aligning the IISF-2021 with ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ he said that people will understand through IISF-2021 that which scientists had contributed in freedom movement, as no such data is available.
“India International Science Festival is very important for the Institute. IISF gives an opportunity to revisit our R& D activities and help to realign with expectations of the country, said CSIR-NEERI Director Dr Atul N Vaidya.
He affirmed that CSIR-NEERI will take science to all segments of society.
Naresh Chafekar, gave an outline of the programmes to be held during the India International Science Festival (IISF-2021) at Goa. He encouraged all the students and teachers for participation in IISF-2021 in large number.
During the outreach programme, Dr. G K Khadse, Sr. Principal Scientist, CSIR-NEERI enlightened the participants on various scientific aspects related to water treatment.
Dr. Anshuman Khardenavis, Principal Scientist, CSIR-NEERI revealed the science involved in converting waste into bioenergy.
Dr. Amit Bansiwal, Sr. Principal Scientist, CSIR-NEERI briefed about the R& D facility to be set up as part of CSIR’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage initiative.
The winners (students) of the Science Quiz Contest were announced on this occasion.
