Manmohan Singh to inaugurate 98th Indian Science Congress

Chennai, Jan 3 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will inaugurate the 98th Indian Science Congress in Chennai on Monday.

The five-day Congress, which will be held from January 3 to 7, will witness the participation of scientists and academicians from all over the world.

Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal will be addressing the inaugural session of the Congress, while participating in the key sessions of the Congress.

The Congress, being organised at SRM University in Chennai, will have about 14 sessions.

Some of the key sessions would be on 'Science Policy - Agenda' for next five years, challenges of maintaining quality education, enhancing academia - industry interactions, drug development from discovery to market, strategic electronics in defence segment and health and disease -cancer: Development of novel drugs for therapy and prevention.

The Science Congress will also have separate programmes on Children's Science Congress, which would give an excellent opportunity for school students to showcase their interest in the latest development in the field of science.

This would be a platform where they can exhibit their creativity and innovation through an exhibition.

The Science Exhibition will be one of the major events of the 98th Indian Science Congress.

The prominent developments, major achievements and the significant contributions largely of Indian Science and Technology to the society will be showcased by leading scientific institutions, government departments, national, international, state as well as public and private agencies and laboratories are expected to participate in the exhibition.

This exhibition will focus on India's development, especially the country's recent emergence as a major power in different areas of Science and Technology. The exhibition is intended for the scientists and technologists, different sections of the society, especially the large student community.

The objective of the Science Congress is to encourage science reporting and writing. The theme for the Science Communication Meet is 'Public communication of scientific research: Bridging the knowledge devide'. (ANI)