Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu has called upon the scientific community to find long-term solutions to the problems faced by farmers and improve crop productivity and farmers’ income. He also wanted scientists to explore ways to make crops climate-resilient, nutrition-efficient and less water-consuming.

He was delivering the valedictory address at the 107th Indian Science Congress at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bengaluru.

Naidu said that global warming and climate change were affecting weather patterns in an unpredictable manner and causing massive devastation at times. He sought to know from the scientists whether the problems faced by farmers due to nature’s fury could be mitigated.

The 107th Indian Science Congress was held from January 3 to 7. In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on young scientists to “Innovate, Patent, Produce and Prosper”, and said these four steps would lead our country towards faster development.

The theme of this year’s meet was “Science & Technology: Rural Development”.

The origin of ISCA

The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) is a premier scientific organisation established in 1914. The ISCA has been promoting science and inculcating the spirit of science through its multifarious activities.

The ISCA meets in the first week of January in an Annual Congress of scientists, science administrators, policymakers and the general public to give a stronger impetus and a more systematic direction to scientific inquiry, to promote the interaction of societies and individuals interested in science in different parts of the country and to obtain a more general attention to the objects of pure and applied sciences.

The ISCA brings together scientists both from India and abroad for mutual interaction in the cause of national development. Annual Congress of the Association has been held every year ever since 1914.

The first meeting of the Congress was held from January 15 to 17, 1914, in Kolkata. From this modest beginning with 105 and 35 papers presented at the first session, the ISCA has grown into a strong fraternity with more than 60,000 members.

Objectives of ISCA

* To advance and promote the cause of science in India.

* To hold an annual Congress at a suitable place in India.

* To publish such proceedings, journals, transactions and other publications as may be considered desirable.

* To secure and manage funds and endowments for the promotion of science including the rights of disposing of, or selling all or any portion of the properties of the association.

The ISCA has instituted several awards to honour and encourage scientists - mainly through special endowments received from individuals and groups and also from its own funds.

Farmers Science Congress

The Farmers Science Congress was inaugurated for the first time in the 107 years of history of the Indian Science Congress, highlighting the importance of farmers’ innovations and their scientific validity.

Around 120 innovative farmers participated in the Farmers Science Congress and showcased their products.

Experts from the different agriculture sectors held discussions on three themes…

* Farmers innovation on integrated agriculture and entrepreneurship for doubling farmers income.

* Climate change, biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem services and farmers empowerment.

* Agrarian distress, rural bio-entrepreneurship and policy issues.

Women Science Congress

The ninth edition of Women Science Congress, an important platform for participants to share their knowledge and learn from each other, was one of the main events at the 107th Indian Science Congress.

Renowned female scientists showcased their work and delivered lectures at the event with the aim to empower young women and to inculcate scientific interest and temper among them.

Children’s Science Congress

The Rashtriya Kishore Vaigyanik Sammelan (Children’s Science Congress) was another prominent event of the Indian Science Congress, and financially supported by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC).

Its main objective was to provide a unique opportunity to children of the age group of 10-17 years to use their scientific temperament and knowledge and to quench their thirst for creativity by conducting scientific experiments to solve problems identified by them. The students also got an opportunity to interact with scientists and subject experts.

Every year, about 7-8 lakh school children in the age group of 10-17 years participate at various levels from the districts, states and Union territories. Around 2-3 best projects from each state are exhibited at the Indian Science Congress. Several projects made by students were showcased they had opportunity to listen and interact with young scientists and Nobel laureates.

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