Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: The foundation of India International Science Festival was laid in the year 2015 by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, in collaboration with Vijnana Bharati. It was decided that one of the departments of these ministries would organise the science festival every year in collaboration with other ministries’ departments of science and Vijnana Bharati.
The basic idea to initiate this programme was to involve the general public in celebrating India’s S&T achievements and progress. The aim of the IISF was to arouse curiosity and inspiration for scientific efforts among people with the goal of serving society and humanity.
This time, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has the responsibility of organising the IISF and the venue of this event is the campus of DBT’s institute THSTI-RCB at Faridabad in Haryana. This festival of convergence of science and society will be held for four days – from January 17 to 20, 2024. The IISF 2023 will be implemented on behalf of DST through its autonomous institute National Innovation Foundation-India.
On the curtain-raiser programme of IISF 2023 organised at the Constitutional Club in New Delhi, Union Minister of Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh said India’s scientific efficiency has given the country global recognition. The country has touched international standards with two important achievements – landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of moon and the development indigenous Covid vaccine during pandemic. He said the IISF is a unique outreach programme aimed at inspiring the common man to make life easier through science, technology and innovation.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government, said that IISF will generate entrepreneurial spirit among the youth of our country and will present a golden opportunity to showcase the scientific achievements around us.
DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar said more than 10,000 school students and 500 young researchers will participate in IISF 2023. More than 100 start-ups will showcase their achievements and it is expected that more than 12,000 participants will witness the science festival.
