National Scientists Round Table Conference 2024

Science is the key to progress, and collaboration is the way forward. On this National Science Day, the National Scientists Round Table Conference (NSRTC) celebrates the power of research, innovation, and collective knowledge in shaping a better future.
This day marks the discovery of the Raman Effect by Dr. C. V. Raman, a groundbreaking contribution to physics that earned him the Nobel Prize. His work reminds us that scientific pursuit driven by curiosity and purpose transforms the world.
As we honour this legacy, let’s continue to explore, innovate, and work together for advancements that serve humanity and promote harmony.

Congratulations to all the recipients of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar for Science, Technology, and Innovation!

The Vigyan Ratna Award for lifetime contribution was bestowed upon Prof. Govindarajan Padmanabhan, NASI Honorary Scientist & Professor, Indian Institute Of Science, Bangalore, for molecular biology and biotechnology research.

In all, 13 Vigyan Shri and 18 Vigyan Yuva-SSB Awards were given to scientists for their outstanding contributions.

Dr. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, the only woman on the list was recognised with Vigyan Shri for Space Sciences and Technology.

Professor Rohit Srivastava of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has been conferred with Vigyan Shri 2024 for his work in point-of-care medical devices, bio-medical microsystems and nanoengineered biosensors resulting in technology development that includes mobile-based urine analysis, diabetes management, noninvasive haemoglobin measurement and lipid analysis systems.

Congratulations to Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardees Prof. Vivek Polshettiwar, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Dr. Roxy Mathew Koll, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM-Pune), Associate Professor Purabi Saikia, BHU, Dr. Radha Krishna Ganti and Prabhu Rajagopal of IIT Madras, and Dr. BAPPI PAUL, National Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar for their stupendous achievement.

Heartiest Congratulations to all the award recipients!

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2047748

Dr Raghunath Mashelkar | Dr. Vijay P. Bhatkar | Dr Professor Ganapati D. Yadav | Dr Thalappil Pradeep |

Dr. R. M. Chitnis | Dr. Milind Pande | Dr. Sanjay Kamtekar | Dr Bharat Kale | Dr. Vikrant Gaikwad | Prof Dr techn Murthy Chavali Yadav (SRI) MEMBER (IAIP-EqC-IQAC) and MEMBER SECRETARY (RC) | Dr Anand Kulkarni | Dr. Parul Jadhav | Dr Anup Kale | Dr Milind Patre | Dr Akshay Baheti | Dr. Amol Tagalpallewar | Dr Anil Pawar | Dr.Malhari B. Kulkarni | Dr Gopinath Thirunavukarasu |

President of India presents Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar –2024 The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu presented the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar-2024 at an award

During the Heath Care session, Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Kale emphasised that while the country excels in creating sophisticated technologies for space exploration and atomic energy, it struggles with biosensors for the medical field. Space and atomic technologies require intricate systems and advanced engineering, yet Bharat has managed to develop and deploy these with remarkable success. In contrast, biosensors, which are comparatively simpler and crucial for medical diagnostics, often lag. This disparity highlights a gap in translating technological prowess into healthcare applications. The underdevelopment in biosensor technology may stem from insufficient investment in medical research, lack of infrastructure, or limited collaboration between scientific and medical communities. Addressing this paradox involves redirecting focus and resources to improve biosensor innovation, thereby bridging the gap and enhancing medical diagnostics and patient care in Bharat.

In the Artificial Intelligence session, Dr. Pratap Sanap from Neilsoft, Pune, elucidated the significance of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing performance by integrating knowledge, intelligence, and context, ultimately achieving wisdom through sophisticated data processing, decision-making capabilities, and adaptive learning algorithms.

Prof. Dr. Ashok Kumar Ganguli, Director of IISER Berhampur, at the Advanced Materials and Processing session of NSRTC, emphasised that transformative advancements are possible when scientists have unrestricted access to funds and resources, which allows them to work without the pressure of immediate results. This freedom is crucial for pioneering discoveries and innovations in scientific research.

Prof. Dr. Samit Kumar Ray from IIT Kharagpur made a compelling statement at the Advanced Materials and Processing session of the National Scientists Round Table Conference (NSRTC). He stressed that although AI is promising, it alone cannot tackle global issues like water and energy scarcity, underlining the essential role of diverse scientific endeavors in addressing these challenges.

Dr. Sachin Jadhav from Cognizant Technology Solutions emphasised the urgent need to translate agricultural research from lab to land during the Agri-Tech session at NSRTC. He spoke about making advanced farming techniques accessible and transformative for farmers.

Dr. Rajesh Singh from Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Pune, at the NSRTC, stressed the importance of drug and therapy availability. He pointed out that while making drugs affordable tackles cost issues, ensuring their availability is equally vital for achieving effective healthcare delivery and equitable health outcomes.

At the Agri-Tech session, Dr. Sujoy Saha from ICAR National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, advocated for the creation of a robust framework for sustainable agriculture. He discussed developing methods that protect the environment, support farmers, and secure food for future generations.

Dr. Sasikumar M., Executive Director of C-DAC Mumbai, during NSRTC, affirmed that major breakthroughs often stem from academic institutions. He described how these institutions are pivotal in nurturing the next wave of researchers and innovators, ensuring a continuous flow of talent and ideas essential for ongoing progress and innovation.