President to Inaugurate Centenary Celebrations of Indian Science Congress 2013 “Science for Shaping the Future of India” Focal Theme for Centenary Session

The Centenary Session of Indian Science Congress is beingorganised  from 3rd-7th, January , 2013  in University of Calcutta,  Kolkatta.The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukerjee will inaugurate the Centenary Session of the Indian Science Congress at Salt lake Stadium on 3rd January,2013 , in the august presence of the Prime Minister of India Dr ManmohanSingh , Ms Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal,  Shri. M. K. Narayanan, Governor, West Bengal and Dr Jaipal Reddy , Minister of Science & Technology, Government of India. This is another historical occasion where the presiding Prime Minister of the Country is the General President for the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA). Bose Institute and University of Calcutta are co-hosting the events being organized at Kolkata.  The five-day Science Congress will be attended by eminent scientists and academicians from all over the world. The  historical importance of 100th Science Congress  is in more than one way. Whereas the themes for all the sessions up the period of 2003 since the first session in 1914 could be grouped under ‘Shaping of the Indian Science’, the focal theme selected for the centenary session is “Science for shaping the future of India”.  The manner in which the new Science, Technology and Innovation policy 2013 could be implemented would form the central theme of the annual session. A road map for investing science into the development process of India is the main topic for discussion. The centenary session is expected to serve as a platform for creating coalition among all stake holders of science and society to pave a new path of progress for the country in the emerging global knowledge economy. The Detailed Programme of Science Congress has been enclosed for your reference. The main highlights of the Science Congress will be as follows: ·         The celebration of centenary year of Indian Science Congress is being organized in the form of Regional Science Congresses. Since the annual session is being organized at the Eastern region, sessions are being organized in four other regions namely North, North-East, West and South. ·         In commemoration of centenary year of Indian Science Congress a postal stamp would be released during the inaugural session on 3rd January 2013. ·         Technical programmes would include a large variety of sessions and topics for discussions. All the technical sessions have been named after renowned scientists or personalities who contributed to the growth of Indian Science.  ·         Programme for the  session at Kolkata would comprise of Inauguration on 3rd January, a panel session under the chair of General President, Endowment lectures, a lecture in honour of Asutosh Mukherjee, two evening public lectures, four plenary sessions named after MN Saha,Homi Bhabha, Norman Borlaug, and C Subramanian, twelve technical sessions named after SN Bose, P C Ray, DN Wadia, UN Brahmachari, DS Kothari, H Khurana, CV Raman, S Ramanujan, Ronald Ross, Vikram Sarabhai, Vishveshwaraya, and GN Ramachandran, one panel discussion on networking and governance dedicated to Satish Dhawanwith two cultural evening sessions. Confirmation of participation and consent to deliver lectures has been received from 66 speakers including 6 Nobel and 1 Abel Prize winners so far. (list of Nobel Laureates and renowned scientists & Programme details are enclosed). With few exceptions, all the technical sessions would be organized at the chairmanship of past General Presidents or the President-Elect of the Indian Science Congress Association. Total of eight scientific academies in the world have agreed to send their representatives to the session at Kolkata so far.  Follow-up is being made with some more scientific academies. It is expected that representatives from as many as 20 countries are likely at the 100th session of Indian Science Congress. There would be 57 overseas invited guests and participants. Special facilitations for the overseas participants are planned. ·         The Children Science Congress session at the Indian Science Congress is planned to be inaugurated at Kolkata on the 4th January 2013. These children would participate in the Indian Science Congress during 3rd -7thJanuary 2013. In the centenary year session at Kolkata, a special mentoring session for the participants at the Indian Science Congress is being scheduled with some Bhatnagar Prize winners and young associates of the Academies of Sciences. ·         Sharing the national priority in promoting gender parity in science sector, Indian Science Congress has scheduled special sessions on Women Science Congress during 5th and 6th January 2013.  As many as 30performing women leaders in science sector are likely to deliver lectures and participate in mentoring sessions. ·         Indian Science Congress organizes annually Vigyan Sancharak Sammelan(Science Communicators meet). Similar session is planned this year as well. It is scheduled for the 4th-5th January 2013. ·         An exhibition of technologies from various public-funded bodies and private sector is also being organized. ·         A panel discussion on the Networking and Governance is scheduled on the 7th January 2013 where Secretaries of various Science departments would be panellists. The session is named after Satish Dhawan The Concluding session is planned on 7th January 2013.  At the session, Major recommendations emanating from the Congress would be presented. Professor M. S Swaminathan has been invited to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. At the Concluding session, Secretary Department of Science & Technology would make a presentation on the major recommendations emanating from the 100th Session of Indian Science Congress. A website viz. www.isc2013.com has been launched containing the details of the 100th Indian Science Congress. All sessions of the Science Congress will also be webcast. Background: Indian Science Congress was first convened in the Asiatic Society in 1914 and Sir Asutosh Mukerjee delivered the first presidential lecture. Since then the Indian Science Congress has emerged as the Parliament of Indian Science. Since the presidential address of Sir Asutosh Mukherjee, 99 annual sessions have been conducted and the year 2012-13 is being observed as the centenary year of the Indian Science Congress.  Indian Science Congress has received wide support of the scientific community and patronage of the political will since the inception. In the year 1946-47, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was elected as the General President and he delivered the historic address calling for friendship of people with science in January 1947. Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) unanimously resolved to elect Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, as the General President for the centenary year 2012-13.  He has kindly accepted the General Presidency.  Under the Presidency of Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, the year 2012-13 is being observed as the Year of Science.  During the centenary year, year-long celebration of the Indian Science Congress is being organized nationwide. Click here to see List