The 10th edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) - 2024 is being organized at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, during 30 November - 3 December 2024. CSIR is the coordinating organization of IISF 2024 and the theme of IISF 2024 is Transforming India into a science and technology driven global manufacturing hub. The curtain raiser event to the IISF 2024 was organized at CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, CSIR Campus, Chennai, on 7 November 2024.
Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC and Coordinating Director, CSIR Madras Complex presided over the event. Prof. R. Velraj, Former Vice Chancellor, Anna University was the chief guest. The welcome address was given by Dr. S. Bhaskar, Chief Scientist, CSIR-SERC, in which he briefed on the genesis and motto of IISF. He also mentioned that various such curtain raiser events are being organized across the country to create awareness about IISF among stakeholders.
Dr. Anandavalli, in her presidential address on the topic Science – an integral part of our life, pointed out that through IISF, science is being celebrated as a festival in India and requested for the greater participation from all sections of the society. She mentioned that science is an exciting subject and we should celebrate science with joy and enthusiasm. Dr. Anandavalli also spoke in details about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), the significance of STEM education in today’s world, and said that IISF aspires to popularize STEM among students. She also spoke in brief on great scientists of our nation, significance of various science related days celebrated in India every year, career in science, importance of civil engineering in everyday lives and about the work of CSIR-SERC.
Shri Gopal Parthasarathy, State Organizing Secretary, VIBHA, Tamil Nadu briefed on IISF 2024 and the role of VIBHA. In his address, he briefed on VIBHA, genesis of IISF and the successful organization of earlier editions of IISF. He mentioned that 26 different programmes are being organized as a part of IISF 2024 and explained in detail programmes such as The New Nalanda, Nari Sakthi and The Gurukula, in which the school students and teachers can participate. Various sectors that are promising, where the young minds can focus is Agriculture to food security, Health care, energy that environment friendly, good water were highlighted upon. He emphasised that the need of the hour is knowledge to product development.
Prof. R. Velraj, Former Vice Chancellor, Anna University,the chief guest of the function, delivered the IISF Scientific Lecture. Dr. L. Madan Kumar, Principal Scientist, CSIR-CEERI, introduced the chief guest to the audience. In his address, Prof. Velraj highlighted the importance of youth power to achieve the aim of Viksit Bharat in the year 2047. Pointing out the tremendous growth in education in the past two decades, he emphasized on the importance of quality education and innovative minds. He mentioned that innovation is the key to Viksit Bharat 2047 and that the innovation should be sustainable and inclusive.
Dr. M. Saravanan, Principal Scientist, CSIR-SERC, proposed vote of thanks.
As a part of the curtain raiser event, the participating students visited various laboratories of CSIR-SERC and saw the various research activities being carried out at the CSIR Campus.