The former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore K.S. Rangappa, who was recently elected General President of Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) for 2019-20, is planning to bring the mega event to one of the cities in Karnataka during his tenure.
On Wednesday, Dr. Rangappa, during whose tenure as V-C, the UoM hosted the 103rd Science Congress in January 2016, said he is also considering a proposal to invite delegates from SAARC countries for the Indian Science Congress.
Though Dr. Rangappa wanted to invite scientists and researchers from abroad for the Mysuru edition of the Indian Science Congress, he said his plans did not fructify. He sought the State government’s support for inviting foreign delegates and added that he planned to hold the event in a city like Bengaluru. “By inviting foreign scientists to the Indian Science Congress, I want to make sure India competes with the rest of the world,” he said.
Dr. Rangappa also hoped to act as a bridge between government of India and the State government to ensure promotion of scientific activities in Karnataka.
The other persons to occupy the coveted post of the General President of the ISCA from Karnataka include C.N.R. Rao, U. R. Rao and Kasturi Rangan.
During his tenure as president of ISCA, Dr. Rangappa hoped to prevail upon science agencies at the national level to sanction projects and provide funding to institutions in Karnataka.
Dr. Rangappa, who has served as sectional President of Chemical Sciences (2017-18), will serve as General President (Elect) 2018-19 and as immediate past President during 2020-21.
‘Einstein’s theory’
When his attention was brought to the statement made by Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan’s claim that late British cosmologist Stephen Hawking had claimed that Vedas might have a theory that is superior to Einstein’s equation E=mc2, Dr. Rangappa said he would go by Einstein’s theory.
When asked whether he would condemn the statement made by the Union Minister, he said he was not aware of the exact statement made by the Union Minister.
However, he said the Indian Science Congress will not hesitate to hold a meeting and review “unscientific” and “superstitious” statements made during the Congress before taking necessary action.
