Mumbai to be branded Science City (Lead)

Mumbai, Jan 2 (IANS) The 102nd Indian Science Congress (ISC) starting here Saturday would brand Mumbai as a 'Science City', acknowledging its contribution in the fields of science, technology, medicine and research, an official said here Friday.

Organised by the Indian Science Congress Association, Kolkata, the ISC will revolve around the theme of 'Science and Technology for Human Development' and is being hosted by University of Mumbai from Jan 3-7.

"We shall brand Mumbai as a 'Science City' because of this great city's contribution to the field of science and related aspects," Mumbai University vice chancellor Rajan Welukar said.

He pointed out that Mumbai has institutions of repute like the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and others.

"The contribution of Mumbai to science is well known... We would like this even to be an event of Mumbai city rather than just the university," Welukar said.

The five-day event, which has come to Mumbai after 45 years, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would witness deliberations and presentation of papers by the scientific fraternity from across the globe.

One of the plenary session will be dedicated to 'innovation and Make in India' initiative.

Over 12,000 delegates from all over the country are expected to participate in the event.

Nobel laureates, a number of eminent scientists and resource persons from India and abroad have been invited to participate in the Science Congress.

The Congress Session will bring together eminent scientists, research scholars to popularise science and foster a scientific temperament among scientists and researchers.

The ISC will cover 14 broad segments such as agriculture and forestry, animal, veterinary and fisheries, anthropological and behavioural, chemical, earth systems, engineering, environmental, materials, information and communications, mathematical, medical, new biology, physical and plant sciences.

The ISC's mega-science expo, to be held at MMRDA Grounds in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, next to the ISC venue, has been titled 'Pride Of India'.

The expo will showcase cutting-edge technologies and path-breaking research and development initiatives, schemes and achievements of the country's leading public and private sector players, government departments, research labs, educational institutions and allied sectors.

Parallel to the main ISC event, there will be a Women's Science Congress, Children's Science Congress and a Science Communicators' Meet.

Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harshvardhan, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Iran, Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Governor Vidyasagar Rao are also expected to participate in the event.