Science Congress to focus on protecting Earth from disasters

The Hindu , Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Correspondent : A.V. Ragunathan
Top scientists from across nation and abroad to attend

CUDDALORE: The stage is set for the 94th edition of the Indian Science Congress beginning on Wednesday.

The congregation of leading scientists from across the country and abroad will deliberate on how to safeguard the Earth from natural and man-made disasters.

The venue, Annamalai University at Chidambaram, is appropriate. In the past few years, it had witnessed a series of natural disasters such as drought and tsunami followed by unprecedented floods. The theme is `Planet Earth.' The scientists will delve deep into the causes of the disasters and find remedies to make the Earth a better place. The world is facing major problems of population growth on the one hand and the depleting resources on the other. And humanity has to cope up with disasters.

16 themes

The organisers — Annamalai University and the Indian Science Congress Association — have chosen 16 themes for discussions including energy security; mineral, water and ocean resources; climate change and monsoon forecast; natural hazards; anthropogenic hazard; education; synergy of science and technology; space applications, nanotechnology; biotechnology; agriculture; biodiversity; mysteries of the earth and medical sciences.

Top scientists including C.N.R.Rao, Scientific Adviser to Prime Minister; R.A. Mashelkar, former Director-General of the CSIR; R.Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser; Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission; T.Ramasamy, Department of Science and Technology; P.S.Goel, Secretary, Department of Earth Sciences; Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the ISRO; M.S. Swaminathan will take part.

Nobel laureates Aaron Ciechanover of Israel and Nartnuit Michel of Germany and 100 foreign delegates would also attend.

Arrangements

Four food villages are in place to cater for the culinary tastes of the delegates. A security cordon is thrown around the venue.

Hotels and lodges are under surveillance.

According to the organisers, the estimated expenditure of the congress would be around Rs. 6 crore, of which the participating Central departments would bear a part of the cost. The remaining funds are expected to come from the State Government.

 
SOURCE : The Hindu, Wednesday, January 03, 2007
 


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