India International Science Festival 2019 Begins in Kolkata

Need to harness the soft prowess of science and technology as an important pillar of the cooperation in the knowledge economy of the 21st century: Dr. Harsh Vardhan

By Onkareshwar Pandey with Didhiti Ghosh in Kolkata

Kolkata/Delhi, November 06, 2019: India needs to foster international collaborations to be globally competitive in the field of science and technology. Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan said while addressing the ''Overseas Ministers and Diplomat Conclave'' here at the Indian International Science Festival 2019 on Tuesday.

He also said there is a need for a solution-based scientific approach to address societal and developmental challenges.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, who is also the Union Minister for Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare,  emphasised on the need to harness the soft prowess of science and technology as an important pillar of the cooperation in the knowledge economy of the 21st century.

“India shares a common past and goal with many of its close neighbours and other partner countries that has served to forge an unbreakable association with India,” Dr. Harsh Vardhan said.

He said that the present government led by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi strongly believes that science and technology is the bedrock upon which the country relies for its knowledge power, enterprises rely upon for their success, and the people rely on a better life.

“This government is therefore fully committed to promote science with a human face that serves the common man and promotes equitable and sustainable development of the country,” he said.

Describing Kolkata as a "science city" of the country, the minister said the eastern metropolis is known for its scientific institutions, and has given India the greatest of scientists like Nobel laureate C V Raman.

Vardhan said that science is universal and not bound by the geo-political boundaries of nations.

The Minister said that the need of the hour is to leverage more on science and technology to bridge disparities between urban and rural sections with a focus on affordable technologies for inclusive development and economic growth.

He mentioned that the Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences are actively cooperating with 44 countries world over.

Emphasising on capacity building in the academic research arena, he said that for creating an ecosystem of fundamental research as a pathway for technology development and innovation, R&D and academic institutions need to be more globally connected to understand and incorporate the best practices.

He emphasised that it can enable the country to leapfrog by avoiding pitfalls and making best use of the collective learning and experiences.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that with international and bilateral collaborations, India has now started to address together societal grand challenges using the tools of technology and innovation.

“The scientists are collaborating internationally in wide fields ranging from basic sciences to mega-science discovery programmes, trying to invent new vaccines for Zika, TB, Malaria, and Dengue, inventing new smart material solutions for clean energy and climate change mitigation, trying to improve crop productivity, studying the water cycle and weather forecasting including monsoon forecasting and natural disaster prediction and management as well as developing Artificial Intelligence based solutions, among others,” the minister said.

"We have to motivate young people to take up scientific research as a carrier choice, and this is a challenge not only for us but many countries,” he said.

"We need to connect the discovery science to solution science by taking the research out of the laboratories to the people, society and the market. This is the need of the hour," he said.

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Any country's global competitiveness is determined by the extent to which science and technology contributes to social services and economic wealth, he said, adding, the scientific community must recognise that society and citizens as important stakeholders.

"Each and every problem that the planet is facing can be solved with the help of science," he said.

"Science and technology are essential pre-requisites for the progress of any nation... The present government believes that these are the bedrock upon which the country relies for its knowledge power," the minister said.

The Centre is committed to promote science that serves the common man, and helps equitable and sustainable development, Vardhan said.

"Thousands of students, innovators, teachers, scientists across the country have participated in the festival. I am sure science is gradually developing into a movement in the country and the scientific community will work in synergy," he added.

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was also present at the inaugural function of the IISF, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recognised the contribution made by scientists from the state.

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Photo Caption –

1 The Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan addressing the gathering during the Overseas Ministers and Diplomats Conclave, a part of the India International Science Festival (IISF), in Kolkata on November 05, 2019.

2&3. The Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan with the foreign delegates during the Overseas Ministers and Diplomats Conclave, a part of the India International Science Festival (IISF), in Kolkata on November 05, 2019. Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof Ashutosh Sharma is also seen.

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[DIDHITI GHOSH is India Columnist at La Agencia Mundial de Prensa, USA, Bureau Chief (Kolkata) of Indian Observer Post & Conference Interpreter (Spanish-English-Bengali). E-mail: didhiti.24@gmail.com | LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/2H6gNAv ]

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(Onkareshwar Pandey is Founder, Editor in Chief & CEO, Indian Observer Post and former Senior Group Editor- Rashtriya Sahara (Hindi & Urdu) and also former Editor, (News), ANI. http://bit.ly/2mh7hih)