Modi urges scientists to work in boosting solar energy, electric mobility

KOLKATA : No country has ever progressed without development in science and technology, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he urged the scientific community to look for ways to boosting solar energy and develop electric mobility across the country.

Modi was addressing the 5th India International Science Festival (IISF) in Kolkata as he inaugurated the four-day festival through video conferencing, after returning from 16th ASEAN-India Summit in Thailand. The annual event is witnessing participation from scientists and researchers across the country, including delegates from Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan.

“India has given the world many great scientists. Our history indeed makes us proud. But now our responsibilities have also grown manifold. The ecosystem for science and technology has to be strengthened and for that the government is providing institutional support for both innovation and invention,” said Modi, adding that a society with ‘scientific temper’ is always on path of development.

Apart from boosting electric mobility, he said scientists should work on developing ways to make life of common residents simpler – address drinking water concerns, reducing health expenses of people and solutions to improve farm productivity. “Focus on long-term solutions and long-term benefits. Also, remain conscious about international laws and standards,” he added.

He said that the festival is being organised in a city whose noted scientists has served humanity for years. “The science festival itself is such a momentous occasion to value the contribution of those scientists. November 7 is the birth anniversary of Dr C V Raman, and November 30 is that of Dr J C Bose,” he said.

The four-day science festival is being organized by Ministry of Science and Technology, alongwith Vijnana Bharti (Vibha), a non-profit organization which has its roots in the Swadeshi (of one’s own country) Science movement.

The festival is organized annually to popularize India’s contribution to the world of science and technology, in consonance with country’s heritage and motivate young scientists to find solutions to problems using both traditional and modern sciences.

This year, the theme of the event is RISEN India – Research, Innovation, and Science Empowering the Nation.

The first day also witnessed students creating a Guinness World Record for the largest astrophysics assembling of spectroscopes with participation of over 1,598 students at Science City, Kolkata. The record was dedicated to C V Raman and noted astrophysict Meghnad Saha.

Source: Live Mint