Beyondheadlines Reporter
Hectic preparations are underway at KIIT for the 99th Indian Science Congress, the greatest scientific extravaganza of the decade, to be held here from 3-7 January 2012. Meetings of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) Executive Committee and ISCA Council were held at KIIT from 12-15 October 2011 to take stock of the preparations. The high-level ISCA committee, led by Prof. Geetha Bali, General President and Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary to the Govt. of India, DST as the Prime Minister’s nominee, also held a series of meeting with KIIT officials, who made a presentation on the progress of work. They were highly satisfied with the preparations.
Selection of the awardees for the Young Scientists’ Programme, instituted by ISCA, was also done on the occasion. The annual award, which is conferred during the session of Indian Science Congress, felicitates young scientists and researchers below the age of 32. For the 99th Indian Science Congress, panel of experts selected 14 young scientists for the award after evaluating their research work and presentations.
The five-day scientific event, organized by KIIT in collaboration with NISER, is expected to be attended by over 18,000 delegates from India and abroad, including 20 Nobel Laureates. The Congress would be inaugurated by Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, who would visit again on the concluding day to take over as the president of the next Science Congress. For the first time, Children Science Congress and Women Science Congress would be held simultaneously with 99th ISC.
More than 100 representatives from ISCA attended the meeting. Prof. K. C. Pandey, Past General President, Dr. M. K. Chakrabarti, Dr. (Mrs.) V. L. Saxena, General Secretaries, Mr. N. B. Basu, Treasurer, Dr. A. K. Nayak, Registrar, NISER & Local Secretary, 99th ISC and Dr. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar, KIIT University & Local Secretary, 99th ISC were among those who were present.
