Kerala Science Congress

Kerala Science Congress is an annual gathering of Kerala-based scientists and scholars organised by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) for revitalizing Research and Development activities in Kerala and to identify new talents in scientific research in Kerala. KSCSTE is an autonomous body constituted by the Government of Kerala. The gathering features talks by invited scientists, presentations of research papers and awards of various prizes.[1]

The first Congress was held 26–28 February 1989 in Cochin University of Science and Technology with the focal theme "natural resources and industrial development of Kerala."[2] The 27th Congress was organized by KSCSTE jointly with NATPAC, during 27–29 January 2015 with special theme "Traditional Industries".[3]

History

The silver jubilee edition of the Kerala Science Congress was held in Thiruvananthapuram, during 29 January - 2 February 2013. A highlight of the event was a special session on science education in Malayalam jointly organized by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment and Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. A draft of the Kerala Science Policy, formulated on the lines of National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, was unveiled by Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala, during the silver jubilee edition of the Kerala Science Congress.[4]

The 26th edition of the event was held during 28 − 31 January 2014 at Kalpetta in Wayanad District in Kerala with the special theme "traditional knowledge."[5][6] It was opened on 28 January 2014, by State Chief Minister, at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus, Pookode near Kalpetta. The four-day congress was held at six venues on the university campus, and was attended by around 1,850 delegates from across India.[7]

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy inaugurated the 27th Kerala Science Congress organised by the Kerala State Council for Science,Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) in Alappuzha on 27 January 2015.[8] The focal theme of the 27th Kerala Science Congress was "Traditional Industries". The three-day conference was chaired by India’s "Agni Puthri" Dr. Tessy Thomas. A special session on ‘Traditional Industries’ was held to evolve strategies for reviving the traditional industrial sector in Kerala. About 980 delegates had registered for the event.[9]

Overview

Dr T Ramaswamy, former secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India lighting the lamp during the inaugural session of 27th Kerala Science Congress

During the Congress carefully selected young researchers are conferred the Kerala State Young Scientist Award for research excellence in various disciplines like mathematical sciences, health sciences, agricultural sciences and forestry, etc. Each awardee is presented with a medal, a certificate with citation, a cash prize of Rs.50,000, a startup research grant, and travel support for a trip abroad to present the research work at a conference. A maximum of 14 awards are conferred every year. The awards are given to young researchers of Indian origin with Ph.D working in Kerala for the last three years. The awardees will make a 15-minute presentation of their award-winning work at the plenary session of the Kerala Science Congress.

During the 26th meeting of the Congress the Award was presented to only three persons, namely, Ravi Shankar L (Scientist, Agroprocessing and Natural Products Division NIIST, CSIR, Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram), Mahesh Hariharan (Assistant Professor, School of Chemistry, IISER, Thiruvananthapuram) and Vineeth Chandrasekharan Nair (Scientist SD, Space Physics Laboratory, VSSC, ISRO, Thiruvananthapuram).[10] During 27th Congress eight young scientists from different branches of science have been presented the Young Scientist Award for the year 2014. The awardees include Utpal Manna, School of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram; Rajeev N. Kini, School of Physics, IISER; Reji Varghese, School of Chemistry, IISER; K.N. Uma, Space Physics Laboratory, VSSC; N. Selvaraju, Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Calicut; Santhoshkumar K.S., Polymers and Special Chemicals Division, VSSC; Binod Parameswaran, Biotechnology Division, CSIR- NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram; and Vandana Sankar, Agro-processing and Natural Products Division, CSIR-NIIST.[11]

A special session called Children's Science Congress used to be held as part of the deliberations of Kerala Science Congress to promote children's endeavors in science. Awards are also presented for authors of best research papers. There are memorial lectures in honour of P.K. Iyengar, nuclear physicist, G.N. Ramachandran, physicist, E.K. Janaki Ammal, botanist, P.T. Bhaskara Panicker, social activist and writer, P.K. Gopalakrishnan, sociologist and economist, and P.R. Pisharoty, physicist and meteorologist.

References

  1. ↑ "Wayanad all set to host Kerala Science Congress". The Hindu. January 28, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  2. ↑ N. Balakrishnan Nair (1989). Proceedings of the First Kerala Science Congress, 26-28 February 1989, Cochin. Cochin: State Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment, Kerala, India.
  3. ↑ "Kerala Science Congress in Alappuzha from Jan 27". The New Indian Express. July 17, 2014. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  4. ↑ T. Nandakumar (29 January 2013). "Kerala makes giant strides in the scientific field". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Special Theme: Traditional Knowledge". Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Thiruvananthapuram. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kerala Science Congress to focus on 'tradition'". The Hindu. December 25, 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  7. ↑ "Kerala Science Congress Gets Under Way". The New Indian Express. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  8. ↑ "CM inaugurates 27th Science Congress". Mathrubhumi. January 28, 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  9. ↑ "Science Congress budget slashed; event truncated". The Hindu. January 20, 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
  10. ↑ V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai Executive Vice President, KSCSTE. "Press Release" (PDF). KSCSTE. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "Eight bag Young Scientist Award". The Hindu. January 20, 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-19.
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