Chennai: Indian Science Congress (ISC) 2011, is expected to emphasize more on the issues such as collaboration with space agencies of different countries for planetary explorations and India-US student exchange programme. Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) will conduct the 98th edition of ISC. It is scheduled to be conducted on January 3-7, 2011, at the SRM University in Kattankulathur. The science Congress will deliberate on the focal theme Quality Education and Excellence in Scientific Research in Indian Universities.
As per sources, the four-day premier science event, to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, is expected to cost SRM University about Rs 12 crore. Around 7,000 people are expected to participate in the science congress, including overseas scientists and couple of Nobel laureates. Moreover, according to officials, normally one-third of the cost will be met from contributions from the domestic scientific organizations and the balance from sponsors.
P. Sathyanarayanan, Vice Chancellor of SRM University and Chairman of the ISC organizing committee, have announced that the Space Summit will see participation from space agencies of other countries like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US, Japan Space Exploration Agency, Europe apart from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
According to Ashok K. Saxena, ISCA General Secretary, a student exchange programme is also planned with the San Diego-based American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He also mentioned that nearly 40 percent of the children in San Diego are of Indian origin. The student exchange programme will give them an opportunity to visit India. This will be the first time such a programme is being thought of as a part of science congress.
