Indian Science Congress 2010, which will be inaugurated on the Karyavattom campus of the University of Kerala here on Sunday, will take stock of the present status of science and technology in India and help draw the future direction of scientific research , according to the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G. Madhavan Nair.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday in his capacity as the general president of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Dr. Madhavan Nair said this annual national event had been planned on a very ambitious scale this time. More than 300 invited speakers would address different sessions of the congress spread over five days from Sunday to Thursday. Nearly 7,000 delegates from all over the country would attend.
The event is being organised under the aegis of the ISCA, headquartered in Kolkata. The ISRO and the University of Kerala are hosting it jointly. Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre P.S. Veeraraghavan and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala A. Jayakrishnan also addressed the press conference representing the hosts.
The focal theme of the congress this time is “Science and Technology Challenges of 21st Century – National Perspective.” The inauguration of the event by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be followed on the same day (Sunday) by a special session on the focal theme. Top Indian scientists K. Kasturirangan and M.S. Swaminathan will address this session.