“Science for Nation Building” will be theme for the National Science Day to be celebrated today –28th February. This year’s theme has been chosen for the purpose of raising public appreciation on scientific issues for the development of nation.
The former Director of the Indian Institute of Science Dr. P. Balaram will deliver the National Science Day lecture on the subject of - Science for Nation Building.
National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated every year on 28th February to mark the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’, for which a Nobel Prize winning research paper submitted by Sir C.V. Raman was accepted on that day.
National awards for the year 2014 for Science & Technology popularization will also be bestowed by the Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Harsh Vardhan at a function on Monday. Shri Y.S. Chowdary, Hon`ble Minister of State, for Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences, will preside over the function.
Awards, for outstanding contributions in popularising science and technology among the children, students and general public are presented every year.
National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) instituted national awards in 1987 to stimulate, encourage and recognize outstanding efforts in the area of science popularization and communication and promoting scientific temper. The awardees selected for 2014 are: Dr. P. S. Shankar, Gulbarga, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Goswami, Tezpur, Dr. S. Narendran, Thanjavur and M.M Publications Limited, Kottayam being the National Awardees for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Print Media including Books and Magazines. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan`s Muktangan Exploratory Science Centre, Pune, Dr. Shripal Rathi, Muzaffarnagar, Shri Abhijit Sarma Barua, Guwahati, Shri Parveen Singh, Jammu and Shri Prem Singh, Sangrur have won the National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Popularization among Children. Shri Anil Kumar Sharma, Ludhiana has won National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Innovative and Traditional methods.
Shri Sarasvatichandra Acharya, Ahmedabad and Dr. A. Subbiah Pandi, Chennai are the National Awardees for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication in the Electronic Medium. All these awards consist of an award amount of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh), a memento and a citation.
NCSTC acts as a nodal agency to support, catalyze and coordinate celebration of the National Science Day in scientific institutions and research laboratories throughout the country and also supports various programmes by the State Science &Technology Councils & Departments for organizing lectures, quizzes, open houses, etc.