Thaindian News

Shillong, Dec 22 (IANS) Rich biodiversity, disaster management and traditional knowledge of the northeast would be the key issues of the Indian Science Congress (ISC), to be held here from Jan 3.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the annual national science meet, being held for the first time in 96 years in the northeast region, in this Meghalaya capital.

The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) will host the five-day ISC that began in 1914.

“The science congress assumes great significance as it is for the first time the meet is being held in the region having a rich culture and biodiversity, besides being an important gene centre globally,” said Pramod Tandon, vice-chancellor of NEHU.

“Since 1914, ISCA brought together scientists from India and abroad for mutual interaction thus helping them in achieving their common goal of scientific advancement for the good of the society,” Tandon told IANS.

A large number of scientists, engineers and technologists from India and abroad would gather at the meet titled ’science education and attraction of talent for excellence in research’.

The other themes of the scientific assemblage includes international cooperation for promotion of excellence in research, national consultation on attraction of talent for research and development public-private partnership (PPP), centre-state dialogue on science education, societal and technological response to climate change.

“Taking advantages of the location and the occasion, programmes of interest to the northeastern region have been planned,” said Thirumalachari Ramasami, general president of the science congress.

An exclusive pavilion will showcase various achievements and the vision development of northeastern states and their rich culture and heritage.

“The special pavilion ‘Edu Vision’ is in keeping with the main theme of this year’s Indian Science Congress Science Education and Attraction of Talent for Excellence in Research,” Ramasami said.