97th Indian Science Congress

Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, inaugurated the 97th Indian Science Congress at Thiruvananthapuram. This is a tradition that India's Prime Minister inaugurates the Indian Science Congress every year on 3rd January & is chaired by Chief Minister of the respective state where this congress is organised.

Indian Science Congress Association
On the lines of British Association for the Advancement of Science, two British Chemists Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P.S. MacMahon established the Indian Science Congress Association to promote scientific research in India. Its first meeting was held in 1914 at the Asiatic Society, Calcutta. Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, who was Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University at that time was the first president of Indian Science Congress.

What is Organized?
Plenary lectures are delivered by the eminent scientists and Nobel laureates which provide broader international perspective and create awareness about the role of science in the society A science exhibition is organised which showcases the latest developments in the field of science and technology.

Some Intersting Facts:

1. Title of the Presidential Message this year was : Science & Technology of 21st Century - National Perspective
2. Last Indian Science Congress was organised in Shillong, in January 2009.
3. The Silver Jubilee Session of the Science Congress was held at Calcutta in 1938 under the Presidentship of Lord Rutherford of Nelson but due to his sudden death, Sir James Jeans took the chair. It was at this Jubilee Session that the participation of foreign scientists in session of the Indian Science Congress was first initiated.
4. Golden Jubilee was celebrated in October, 1963 at Delhi with Prof.D.S. Kothari as General President.
5. The Diamond Jubilee Session of the Science Congress was held at Chandigarh in January 3-9, 1973, under the Presidentship of Dr.S.Bhagavantam.
6. Seventy Fifth year of its incepton, popularly called otherwise, Platinum Jubilee was celebrated in 1988, with Prof.C.N.R.Rao as General President. Keeping this in view, a special brochure, entitled "Indian Science Congress Association-Growth & Activities" was published so as to highlight the programmes of the Association over the years.
7. The 34th Annual Session of the Indian Science Congress was held at Delhi in January 3-8,1947 with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, as General President.
8. In 1976, Dr.M.S.Swaminathan, the then General President of ISCA introduced the Focal Theme of national relevence which is now discussed in every section, committee and forum during the annual session. ISCA has now become a platform where members from different disciplines and from different walks of life can contribute to discussions on the Focal Theme