CM to inaugurate 20th Science Congress on Jan 28

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 25 (UNI) Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan will inaugurate the 20th Kerala Science Congress to be held here from January 28 to 31.

Talking to newspersons, Congress Committee chairman Prof R V G Menon said the Chief Minister would also release the proceedings volume of the Science Congress and Compendium on special theme and present the Dr S Vasudev award for the best science research project carried out with financial support of Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE).

The committee had selected 210 papers for oral and poster presentation from 472 papers that were submitted by budding scientists, he said and added that there were 48 contestants for young scientist award. The awards would be given based on the merit of the paper and presentation in ten themes each.

The object of the Congress jointly organised by the University of Kerala and National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), sponsored by KSCSTE and the Department of Science and Technology of the Union Government was to encourage effective participation of fresh talents and inculcate scientific temper for advancement of scientific research in the state.

Kerala Education Minister will distribute the Young Scientists' and Children scientist awards and release a documentary CD ''from haze to light and a book titled 'medicinal plant resources of Kerala'' at the valedictory function, he added.

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