Inspire younger generation to take up innovative research : CM
Bhubaneswar, Dec. 27: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said it was the society’s collective responsibility to inspire the younger generation to take up innovative research as evolution of better technologies in every field was needed to enhance the quality of life.
“Technology plays a very important role in improving the quality of our lives. The progress of science has led to the evolution of better technologies in every field, especially in the areas of health and environment,” Patnaik said inaugurating the five-day 26th National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC-2018) being held in the campus of the SOA Deemed to be University.
“I think it is our collective responsibility to inspire the younger generation to take up innovative research in this direction,” he said.
The Odisha government, the chief minister said, was focusing on development of scientific temper among the children through organization of different science based programmes at various levels and establishment of science parks and planetariums at the district level to generate interest among children in various aspects of science and technology.
Referring to the theme of NCSC this year, ‘Science, Technology and Innovation for a Clean, Green and Healthy Nation’, he said “it has been aptly chosen as environment and health have emerged as two major concerns of our times.”
Nearly 800 children from all over the country, including 10 ASEAN and five Gulf countries, besides around 400 scientists, evaluators, mentors and parents are attending the conference.
Expressing his delight at the holding of the NCSC in Bhubaneswar for the second time, Patnaik congratulated the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) for organising the event and SOA for playing host.
The Chief Minister said Bhubaneswar had emerged as the knowledge hub of Eastern India with world class educational and research institutions like IIT, AIIMS, NISER, Institute of Physics and Institute of Life Sciences coming up in the city with a glorious heritage.
The chief minister also released a special postal cover to mark the occasion presented to him by G Gurunathan, Director of Postal Services (HQ) in Bhubaneswar.
The inaugural programme was also graced by the Minister for School and Mass Education, Science and Technology Badri Narayan Patra, Chief Secretary Mr. Aditya Prasad Padhi and Principal Secretary in the Science and Technology department Nikunja Bihari Dhal.
Patra said a nation’s progress was invariably linked to science and technology which has helped raise the quality of life. Indian scientists, he said, had already achieved the feat of putting the ‘Mangalayan’ in Mars orbit in their very first attempt earning kudos from the global scientific community.
The NCSC, he hoped, would go a long way in impacting children to take to science in a big way.
Dr. Sujit Banerjee, National Programme Coordinator of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, who was on the dais along with Prof. Manas Mallick, Director of SOA, said the NCSC was a festival of science which the “children must enjoy”. Around 56 per cent of the participants in the NCSC this year were girls while attempts were being made to bridge the rural-urban gap with 40 per cent of the children being from rural areas, he said.
“Dream big, you’ll achieve big,” Banerjee said urging the children to “put their best foot forward in the conference.”
The Vice-Chancellor of SOA Deemed to be University, Prof. Amit Banerjee presided while Prof. T.P.Raghunath, Chairman of the National Academic Committee for NCSC proposed the vote of thanks.
