Shri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, formerly the Governor of west Bengal has that the scientific temper is not about being a geek. It is to be intelligent and ecologically wise in the way precious and depleting resources should be or should not be used. No one with scientific temper would allow himself to be cruel. It is about being civil and civilized. Shri Gandhi was delivering the National Science Day Lecture on "Fostering Scientific Temper" here at Auditorium I, JNU Convention Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi today. He said that it is pedagogical duty of scientists, in addition to their rights, to foster scientific temper in the country.
In his opening remarks, Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary Department of Science & Technology, Government of India said sincere efforts are being made to foster and nurture scientific talent in the country and a number of initiatives have been taken in this regard.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Dr. B.P. Singh, Head of National Council for Science & Technology Communication Division (NCSTC) said his wing acts as a nodal agency to support catalyze and coordinate celebration of the National Science Day through out the country in scientific institutions and research laboratories. NCSTC has supports various programmes through grants-in-aid to State S&T Councils & Departments for organization of lectures, quizzes, open houses, etc. Celebrations of important Scientific Days bring scientific awareness in the community. Many institutions organize open house for their laboratories and apprise students about career opportunities available in the field of science & technology.
He said National Council for Science & Technology Communication has instituted national awards in 1987 to stimulate, encourage and recognize outstanding efforts in the area of science popularization and communication and promoting scientific temper. The awards for 2013 have been given to Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, New Delhi and Society of Pollution & Environment Conservation Scientists, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, being the National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication in general. The award consists of Rs.2,00,000/- (Rupees two lakh), a memento and a citation. Dr. Oum Prakash Sharma, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, Shri Hemant Achyut Lagvankar, Thane, Maharashtra, Shri Bhabesh Mahanta, Guwahati, Assam, Dr. N. Rajagopalan, Chennai have been conferred with the National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Print Media including Books and Magazines. The award consists of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh), a memento and a citation. Shri Jaswinder Singh, Patiala, Punjab, Dr. Kailash Chandra Goswami, Guwahati, Assam have won the National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Popularization among Children. The award consists of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees one lakh), a memento and a citation.
The deliberations were also addressed by Dr. S.K.Sopory, Vice Chancellor, Jawahar Lal Nehru University on this occasion who detailed the association of DST with JNU.
Tags: National Science Day
Scientific Temper
West Bengal
Gopal Krishna Gandhi
Ncstc
