The National Science Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm on 28 February 2023, jointly by CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI) and CSIR Madras Complex (CMC) at CSIR Campus, Taramani, Chennai.

 

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation & Former Chief Scientist, World Health Organization (WHO) was the Chief Guest of the function. Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC and Co-ordinating Director, CMC, delivered the welcome address. In her address, she reiterated the importance of science for sustainable development and briefed on the genesis of National Science Day. She said that this day is being celebrated to bring awareness about important scientific applications in daily life and it gives a platform for scientists and experts to discuss new innovations and technologies emerging in various fields. Mentioning about this year’s theme of Global Science for Global Wellbeing, she said that it is conceived keeping in mind the immediate concerns of the nation, society and India’s emerging global role. Dr M. Thirunavoukkarasu, Chief Scientist & Scientist-in-charge, CSIR-NEERI formally introduced the chief guest.

 

Dr. Swaminathan delivered the National Science Day lecture on Lessons for Science from the Pandemic. In her address, she remembered Sir C.V. Raman as simple, down-to-earth person and an illustrious scientist whose science was driven mainly by curiosity. She spoke in detail on the many lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of WHO in dealing with the pandemic. She pointed out that the growing contact between humans, domestic and wild animals, because of environmental destruction and deforestation may lead to the emergence and spreading of new infectious diseases in the near future and that it will be challenge to deal with them. She said that self-reliance is very important in the current scenario and pointed out that India is known for its generic manufacturing and is in a better position to deal with the existing and future problems. She stressed on the importance of working on existing diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, etc. that may largely help in encountering future pandemics. She also pointed out the significance of collaboration and sharing of information in scientific research and said that these two aspects played a huge positive role in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. She also spoke on the significance of genome sequencing and collaboration in that aspect. She also highlighted on WHO’s role as a global coordinating agency and the role it played in terms of vaccine approvals, recommendations and guidelines made, dissemination of scientific information, policy work, etc. during the pandemic. She spoke on the importance of regulatory bodies and said that community engagement & participation, communication & dissemination of scientific information, good science education in schools and science literacy are extremely important for the progress of science.

 

Dr K.J. Sriram, Director, CSIR-CLRI, proposed vote of thanks. In his speech, he highlighted on certain successful collaborations between laboratories during the pandemic, and the Jigyasa programmes organized by CSIR labs to connect to school students. He also said that this science day function is a step towards association between CSIR labs in Chennai that is aimed to facilitate interaction between scientists of laboratories and hoped that it will continue in future as well.

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