New Delhi, India, January 16, 2020 : In order to highlight the value and impact of fundamental research to a broad cross-section of audience including students, academician and industry, and to further strengthen India’s participation in mega-science Projects, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) have jointly organised a multi-venue mega-science exhibition, Vigyan Samagam.
The exhibition will be held in New Delhi from 21stJanuary to 20thMarch, 2020 at the National Science Centre (NSC), PragatiMaidan.The inaugural function will be attended by KN Vyas, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and Secretary, DAE ; Prof.Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST ; and Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Dr Paul Ho, Director General, East Asian Observatory, Hawaii, USA will deliver the keynote address during the inaugural function.
Vigyan Samagam exhibition is showcasing India’s contribution to international collaborations on fundamental science and research, and providing a common interactive platform for mega-science Projects, industry, academia and institutions. “It is a science communication platform for policymakers, representatives of print and electronic media along with members of civil society”, said Arun Srivastava, Secretary, AEC and Head, Institutional Collaboration & Programs Division (ICPD), Nuclear Control and Planning Wing (NCPW), DAE, addressing a curtain raiser press conference here today.
“The exhibition is also ushering fundamental science and research as a strong career option for the youngsters. Such a spectrum of audience is expected to pave the way for a greater interaction between all stakeholders resulting in cross-fertilisation of ideas”, he added.
Mega-science collaborations proposed to be showcased in Vigyan Samagam include:
1. European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
2. Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR)
3. India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO)
4. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
5. Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)
6. Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
7. Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)
A first-of-its-kind exhibition, the Vigyan Samagam is being hosted in a caravan mode at four cities – Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Delhi – from May 2019 to March 2020 with around two months at each venue. The previous schedule is as given below:
1. Mumbai – From 8th May to 7thJuly, 2019
2. Bengaluru – From 29th July to 28th September, 2019
3. Kolkata – From 4th November to 31st December, 2019
In the preceding editions, Vigyan Samagam witnessed enormous response at Mumbai and Bengaluru as evident from the footfall of about 1.3 lakh at both the venues. The footfall doubled at Kolkata to approximately 3 lakh visitors, garnering a cumulative total of 5.5 lakh visitors from the three previous editions.
School activities like quizzes, essay-writing / drawing contests, and popular outdoor programmes like science awareness cyclothon etc. are carried out at each venue during Vigyan Samagam.
Newspaper and magazine articles showcasing India’s contribution in mega-science are published in print media during the exhibition. Interviews with eminent personalities visiting the exhibition are being carried out for publication in print and electronic media.
The exhibition at NSC, New Delhi will be open on all days from 21stJanuary to 20thMarch, 2020 including Weekend and Holidays from 10 AM to 6 PM.
National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), Ministry of Culture, as a venue partner is providing the required venues at selected cities, exhibition stalls and necessary infrastructural and logistic support to conduct the exhibition.
For more details visit at : Vigyan Samagam
