IISF 2023: Showcasing India through Science, Technology and Innovation

Spotlight

The 9th edition of the India International Science Festival was organised in Faridabad, Haryana from 17th to 20th January 2024. The theme of the year was Public Outreach of Science and Technology in Amrit Kaal. The event was inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, who highlighted that India has now become a globally renowned country with the strength of science, technology and innovation. In the inaugural session, three main achievements of India- the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the Moon, the creation of Covid vaccine and the Aroma Mission- were applauded. International and national guests from about 23 countries also came to participate in the science festival. DST Secretary, Professor Abhay Karandikar, while giving a brief introduction of the events to be held over the four days, explained the importance of platforms such as IISF 2023 in fostering scientific temperament in the youth, students and encouraged the audience to take inspiration from the scientific progress made by the country.

Emphasising Indian Solutions to Indian Problems

Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh called for finding Indian solutions to Indian problems and said that India will now continue to establish its presence as a leading nation in the group of developed and scientifically advanced countries. Dr Singh also highlighted the need to focus on Indian solutions to Indian problems, Indian data for Indian research, Indian doctors for Indian people through public-private partnerships towards national development through science and technology.  India, which is moving towards the National Quantum Mission, occupies a place among the top 6 or 7 countries adopting quantum technology. Till 2014, India had only 1 space startup, which has now skyrocketed to a staggering 199. It is noteworthy that from April to December 2023, an investment of more than Rs 1,000 Cr. has come through space startups. As per international surveys, India's space economy is expected to reach $100 billion by 2040. To aid this endeavour, the minister also shed light on the potential of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, which will pave the way for a greater Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in scientific research. Further, NRF will put India in the league of developed countries that are leading new research in new areas.

Nurturing a Conducive Platform for Budding Scientists

"In the next 25 years, India will be propelled by the brilliance of young scientists."

-Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Earth Sciences.

The India International Science Festival also saw the conception of the Young Scientists Conference, inaugurated by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister for Earth Sciences on January 17, 2024. Encompassing a host of researchers and scientists, the conference aimed to reveal the unmatched potential of the youth in creating a cutting-edge ecosystem for frontier research in India. Embedded with a range of themes such as 'Sustainable Development and Circular economy', 'Environment and Climate Change', 'Food Security and Agriculture', 'Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT)', 'Space Research', etc., the inclusive nature of the conference brings together individuals from diverse back-grounds including R&D laboratories, academic institutions and industries, signifying a holistic approach to scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange. The efforts of the Science Media Communication Cell in coordinating media publicity for the conference highlight the importance of effective communication in disseminating scientific know-ledge and engaging the wider community. Overall, the Young Scientist Conference appeared to be a significant platform for nurturing and showcasing the talents of young researchers, fostering collaboration and contributing to India's scientific vision.

Tying Science and Literature for Better Outreach

On its second day, IISF'23 highlighted how science can be propelled through literature in the form of Vigyanika: Science Literature Festival. The event showcased the imperative of fostering scientific temperament and promoting scientific awareness through Indian languages. Vigyanika acted as a catalyst in bridging the gap between the common masses and scientists through art mediums such as puppetry and poetry. In tandem with the goals of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Vigyanika 2023 is a hopeful effort to integrate science and literature as an entity into education and disseminate scientific information in an accessible and comprehensive manner to the students. Themes such as 'Science and Techno-logy Public Outreach in India' advocated the importance of citizen participation in science through science communication, enabling evidence-based science and scientific thinking in every-day life and involving local leaders and innovative technologies in making scientific communication successful. Through a panel discussion themed 'Apni Bhasha Apna Vigyan: Strengthening Science Communication in Indian languages', the need for scientific dissemination in regional languages was also highly pressed upon so that language doesn't act as a barrier in the way of communicating scientific information. To validate this possibility, an Assamese magazine "Bigyan Lahar", a collaborative initiative by CSIR-NIScPR and CSIR-NEIST and a Tamil flip book "Treasures of Indian Tradition: A Journey through Scientifically Validated Indian Traditional Knowledge" were released.

Innovating through Space Technology

On the second day of the Student Innovation Festival - Space Hackathon in 2023,

Shri S. Somanath, Secretary of the Department of Space and the Chairman of ISRO,addressed students from all over the country. Sharing his thoughts, he encouraged young minds to explore boundless possibilities offered by space technology. He also stressed how space technology is crucial in various areas like farming, remote sensing, navigation, transportation, water resources, infra-structure and more. He also talked about the Bhuvan portal, a website by the Indian Space Research Organisation, which lets people explore geographic information. The portal has applications that can benefit the public, promote innovation and contribute to societal development. These hackathons inspire students to be creative, pro-viding a platform for them to not only compete but also collaborate, innovate and gain a better understanding of the prospects of space technology. With so much optimism revolving around the space industry, hackathons like these support young minds in exploring and contributing to the overarching goal and responsibility of nation-building.

Strengthening Entrepreneurial Aptitude in Young Minds

Interactive knowledge work-shops for upcoming and budding entrepreneurs were also organised as a part of the festival.  The workshops were centred around startup canvas, identifying problems, value proposition and differentiation, building on Go-to-Market Strategy and fund raising. Participants of these events gained knowledge and enhanced their entrepreneurial skills while interacting with national and international delegates, incubators and business strategists, providing valuable networking oppor-tunities that could lead to future collaborations, partnerships or mentorship for the participating startups. Events like these are also a platform to share experiences and learnings by the diverse group of presenters contributing to knowledge transfer. Armed with a better understanding of essential startup elements, participants are likely to apply this knowledge to strengthen their startup foundations. This, in turn, could lead to more resilient and successful startups in the long run, aiding the economic and developmental goals of the country.

Exploring the Role of Science in Governance

Dr. Jitendra Singh, while addressing a meeting of Science Ministers from different States and Union Territories during the event highlighted the significant use of technology in governance over the last decade under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The government has incorporated technology in several areas, including infra-structure development, digital healthcare, digital education, PM Gati Shakti, DBT and SVAMITVA. Integrating science and technology into governance enhances efficiency and effectiveness by enabling data-driven decision-making. Additionally, technology fosters good gover-nance by promoting transparency and accountability through online platforms, digital systems and easy information sharing with the public. In healthcare and public safety, technology plays a vital role in governance by supporting digital healthcare through electronic health records, telemedicine and health information systems. In essence, integrating science and technology into governance improves public administration, enhances citizens' quality of life, addresses societal challenges, fosters innovation and ensures sustainable development.

He also mentioned the success of initiatives like the Aroma Mission and Purple Revolution in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), which led to the establishment of over 3,000 Startups focusing on Lavender cultivation. The Aroma Mission's success has inspired its replication in the North-Eastern Region, with Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh showing interest in adopting the Lavender cultivation model after studying it in J&K. This paved the way not only for agricultural advancement but also helped people of other regions take up techno-logy-driven agricultural practices improving the livelihood of people giving them employment and related opportunities, fostering innovation and ensuring sustainable development.

Thematic Hubs (Quantum Computing, Communication, Sensing & Metrology)

In the first meeting of the Mission Governing Board (MGB) of the National Quantum Mission (NQM), the Committee approved the decision to invite pre-proposals for setting up four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs). Given the role of NQM, pre-proposals will be initiated as a follow-up to approval. Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) said, "The launch of the pre-proposal is an important step towards the National Quantum Mission. The National Quantum Mission is likely to make substantial progress in the next few months, with brain storming sessions scheduled soon with researchers to identify expertise, capacity and opportunities. NQM will also work closely with industry and startups to apply research technologies. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will provide the necessary resources for the success of the submission and to facilitate the researchers so that India can develop into an internationally competitive position". The Union Cabinet had last year approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) to be implemented by DST with a total outlay of Rs. 6003.65 Cr. for eight years. The mission aims to promote and advance scientific and industrial research and development to make for way for a better ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).

The participation of researchers and several dignitaries from the field of science and innovation made IISF 2023 fruitful, encouraging the spirit of scientific exploration and co-operation. It acted as a significant platform for young scientists to exchange their perspectives and widen their intellectual horizons. Various initiatives of the State Council of Science and Technology emphasised integrating science with society. During this, the development of a state-of-the-art Science City spread over 50 acres was announced. The objective of this was to create a dedicated space for scientific exploration, learning and engagement while encouraging a culture of curiosity and discovery among the public and children.The main objective of IISF is to enable young students and innovators to make India a global leader in the next 25 years of the Amrit Kaal by contributing to the progress of science and technology in the country during the last several years. At the same time, about 5,000 picosatellites built by the students of the school in the IISF Challenge programme have created a new history. The presence of more than 13,000 delegates and 25,000 students set new records. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed at the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023. The winners of the Student Innovation Festival-Space Hackathon 2023 were announced with notable achievements in the World Record category. Awards were presented to the main pavilions of excellence in concept, technology, interactivity and special mentions.

Compiled by Sudhit Mishra, Kaushikee and Induja, EN Team

Source: PIB, IISF website