Accept science as friend and agent of progress: CM

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 28: Underling the role of science and technology in everyday life, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonwoal called upon the society to accept science as a friend and an agent of economic progress. "Science is not for the elite class alone. It is for all. It's a potent instrument for poverty alleviation and dispelling superstition from society," Sonowal said.

Speaking at the state level function of Assam Science Festival and tiol Science Day, 2017 organized by the Science and Technology Department, Govt. of Assam at Stimanta Sankardev kalakshetra today, the Chief Minister pitched for popularizing science for tiol growth and maximum use of the same for augmenting agricultural production. Sonowal called upon the scientists to produce high productivity seeds for promoting double cropping in the state.

Sonowal stressed the need for greater proliferation of science education amongst the young generation and termed it as the corner stone of overall development of a country. He also advocated for taking renewed measures to develop scientific temperament amongst the tea tribe community of the state.

The Chief Minister stated that many misconceptions are prevalent against science education in the country adding that the government aims to remove such negativity so that science can act as a change agent for development. Sonowal further said that panchayat-level science festivals will be organized in the state to bring science education closer to people's lives and creating an ebling environment.

Stating that science plays a crucial role in facing challenges, the Chief Minister commented that science is quintessential in realizing dreams into reality in the 21st century. Even for development of skills also, scientific mentality if a pre-requisite, Sonowal remarked.

In tandem with the theme for the celebration of tiol Science Day, 2017, the Chief Minister further stated that the state government is committed to create an ebling and congenial environment for the specially able in Assam by making the best possible use of science and technology.  The Chief Minister also recalled the contributions of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay for promoting 'integral humanism' and vouched for working for the dibyangjan.  

State Science & Technology Minister Keshav Mahanta, while speaking on the occasion, highlighted the steps taken by the government for popularization of science education in the state. The Minister also announced to offer Rs. 2 lakh assistance to Innovator Uddhav Bharali for scientific research. Mahanta also stated that the government has taken a decision to set up science centre in every district.

The Chief Minister presented State Science Award for lifetime contribution to Dr. Dhirendra th Borthakur posthumously. Similarly, the Chief Minister also presented Young Scientist Award to Dr. Debasish Bora and 'Science Popularization and Research Award' to Aranyak, an NGO.

The Chief Minister also released a souvenir and visited the science exhibition organized to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile, around 300 students from ME to high school of seven schools of the city participated on the occasion of tiol Science Day 2017 on 'science and technology for specially able persons'. It was a celebration to commemorate the invention of the Raman Effect by  Indian scientist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman in 1928.

Students interacted in the science talk with IIT physics professor Dr. Bipul Bhuyan. Students were enthralled to know about TRAPPIST 1, the newly discovered star, hosting seven planets. "The students are exposed to new scientific discoveries around and also about atom and its contents," Bhuyan said. Later students took part in experiments and demonstrations on popular science and open house science quiz competition. An art competition was held where students were divided into three groups.  A memory contest was also held for students where 20 pictures of scientific instruments were projected on the screen for a short time. Participants then wrote about the instruments in 5 minutes from their memory.

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