“Science is way of understanding the reality, a must for survival of human race and a valid method of raising the truth,” said Mr Vivek Monteiro, recipient of Homi Bhabha for Science Education, 2016, showcasing the resolution of scientific temper and promoting the pseudo-science in the state.
He was speaking at the valedictory of the 16th All India People’s Science Congress held here at National Institute of Science Education and Research. The invited valedictory speakers were Rao Saheb Kasbe, president, Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad,Ms Yumi Bae, Chief of UNICEF state Office, Odisha, Padmashree Bhabanisnaker Pattnaik, Chairman, Kalinga Foundation, Prof V. Muruganandam, Acting Director, NISER and Dr. D. Balasubramanian, former Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.
Mr Aurobindo Behera who co-chaired the valedictory session said “Promotion of health care, nutrition, women’s status, gender equality is one of the necessity of today’s world” while Ms Yumi Bae remarked, “Together we need to connect ourselves to the UNICEF and AIPSC network to make the sustainable development”.” You don’t have to be a scientist to practice science”, noted Dr. Balasubramanian while featuring science literacy and spreading of science awareness among AIPSC delegates.
In a country where great mathematicians like Ramanujan was born, our Indian education system is now greatly lacking teachers in many different school and colleges’’, said Prof. V.Muruganandam on the issues of failing education system of India in front of all delegates. Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra who inaugurated the valedictory function said there is great advancement of science yet there is widespread belief in superstitions and pseudo science.