10th Edition of India International Science Festival 2024 Concludes in Northeast

GUWAHATI: The 10th edition of the India International Science Festival 2024 (IISF 2024), held at IIT Guwahati from November 30 to December 3, concluded successfully, leaving an indelible mark on India's journey towards becoming a global leader in science, technology, and innovation, stated a press release.

Keshab Mahanta, Minister for Science, Technology, and Climate Change, Government of Assam, graced the valedictory event as the chief guest. Other dignitaries included Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR; Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, Thiruvananthapuram; Prof. Subhendu Sekhar Bag, Associate Dean and IIT-G's single point of contact for IISF 2024; Dr. V.M. Tiwari, Director, CSIR-NEIST; and P.A. Vivekenenda Pai, Secretary General, Vijnana Bharati, along with several distinguished figures from India's science and technology ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, the chief guest, Keshab Mahanta, said, "IISF 2024 has truly been a remarkable celebration of India's scientific achievements, underscoring the pivotal role of science and technology in shaping our future. Over the last four days, we have witnessed an inspiring display of innovation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, with participants from all walks of life coming together to explore the transformative power of science. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as all the partners who have supported this initiative. Assam is honoured to host such an important event, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to advance science and technology in the region. As we look ahead, we remain focused on leveraging science and innovation to build a more sustainable and self-reliant future for India."

A key highlight of the event was that more than 50% of all participants in all events at IISF 2024 were from the North East. The total footfall for IISF 2024 over four days is estimated to be around 45,000; that averages to more than 10,000 attendees per day.

IISF 2024 featured 25 distinct events with more than 150 technical sessions and panel discussions organized over three days. The huge breadth of the events could be ascertained from the presence of more than 400 resource persons and 7,000+ registered delegates who attended the technical sessions. Most of the visitors were engaged in interactions at the various exhibition halls.

During her Presidential address, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR, said, "The 10th IISF is a landmark in celebrating Indian science and innovation. My gratitude to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Government of India; Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam; and IIT Guwahati for their support, and to the 400 IIT Guwahati student volunteers whose dedication made this event a success."

Dr. Kalaiselvi added, "CSIR is proud to contribute to India's scientific progress and will ensure the 'Guwahati Declaration' drives impactful initiatives. We are committed to nurturing innovative ideas from the student hackathon and tackling key challenges through mission-driven programs. Together, we are committed to strengthening IISF as a platform for inspiration and collaboration, advancing India's global scientific leadership."

Organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the aegis of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, with the nodal institute of the event being CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, the four-day festival featured several high-profile sessions.

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