Flame of knowledge illuminates ISC venue

BHUBANESWAR: Vigyan Jyot, the Flame of Knowledge, arrived at the event venue, KIIT University, on the eve of inauguration of the 99th India Science Congress by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. The ceremonial flame with the aim of promoting scientific temper among the children as well as developing more inclination towards science and technology was received by KIIT founder and chief patron of the 99th ISC Achyuta Samant at the venue on Monday. The Jyot with its core theme as ‘Science for a Billion People’ was flagged off in Delhi on December 16 by Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dinesh Singh. It covered more than 2,400 km across 15 cities including Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Aurangabad, Patna, Gaya, Ranchi, Lucknow, Dhanbad, Kolkata, Kharagpur and Cuttack before reaching Bhubaneswar.  Vigyan Jyot is inspired by Olympic flame and strove to ignite young minds to be a part of science movement in India. The undiminishing flame had been lit with the motto of spreading awareness on the role of science and technology in day-to-day life and to experience various aspects of life from the perspective of science and technology. It aimed at creating affinity towards use of science while defining the complete spectrum of science and technology. It travelled through the country and remained lit throughout inspiring lakhs of students  en route to take oath to contribute to the cause of science. Over 15,000 delegates comprising top scientists, technocrats, researchers and innovators from across the spectrum of science and technology are slated to take part in the ISC. Around 500 top international scientists and 20 Nobel Laureates would also take part. The first day sessions would kick off with a plenary on Science Policy Making, chaired by space scientist and Planning Commission member Dr K Kasturirangan. Nobel Laureate in Medicine Dr Rolf M Zinkernagel of  University of Zurich is slated to deliver a lecture on “Why do we not have a vaccine against HIV or TB”.  Luminaries like chairman of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation Dr MS Swaminathan, Director of Land and Water, Food and Agriculture Organisation Dr Parviz Koohafkan and CSIR Director-General Dr SK Brahmachari will deliver lectures on the opening day. The Congress would also feature the Pride of India Exhibition which would be inaugurated by Union Minister for Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh.