Indian Youth Science Congress-2010!

It was a tedious job to go from the city to SRM University, Kattangulathur from 26-28^th  but I would say it was a journey worth, for the 2^nd Indian Youth Science Congress. It was a dream come true to many to see the Father of Green Revolution Dr.M.S.Swaminathan in the inauguration programme. The main theme consisted of Biodiversity, Ecology, Agriculture and Sustainable development. Distinguished speakers from organizations like DRDO, Dept. Of Science &Tech, Dept. of Biotechnology, ICRISAT, filled the plenary sessions with enlightening lectures. Dr Lalji Singh, CCMB, Hyderabad filled us on the ‘Mystery of Origins’. The first day ended with a lecture by Dr.Swaminathan on ‘Relevance of Darwinism in a Warming Planet’.

  The second day had Dr K K Dwivedi telling us about innovation ecosystem. Dr. Anuj Sinha, DST, chaired a workshop on ‘Linking Science to Society’ enthusiastically.

Dr Arul Aram dealt interestingly on how media grapples issues of climate change and Ms Arpita Chkraborty on developing the socially challenged which was a revelation. Dr.Ajay Parida, MSSRF, dealt the main theme of agriculture and Mr Joseph Thomas, the initiator of IITM Research Park and Villgro, showed many successful stories of young entrepreneurs to us. It was followed by parallel sessions of paper and poster presentations.

 The final day had all of us discussing about the challenges faced by youth as a panel discussion with Dr Latha Rangan of IIT and Ajay Parida.

The valedictory function was grand with excellent speakers such as Dr P L Gautham, Chairman of NBA. In addition, Dr Sathayanrayanan, Vice-Chancellor, SRM was magnanimous enough to include all participants as members of IYSC Association without any payment and has provided office space for the same.

The whole event was a success with students from all over India present; it was pre cursors to the Indian Science Congress to be hosted by SRM in 2011. Many of us had the opportunity to interact with professors from prestigious institutes. Being the year of youth in 2010-11, anticipating more in the coming year..