The Indian Science Congress, the 105th edition of which begins on Friday in Manipur Central University, has been reduced to a festival high on attendance and low on scientific content. The theme for 2018 is ‘Reaching the unreached through S&T’.

The level of the discourse has deteriorated to such an extent that the theme in 2015 was how so-called Vedic knowledge was used to make planes fly.

In this context, it is pertinent to note the changes made by the British Science Association which has been organising its flagship programme, the British Science Festival, since 1831. The programme been restructured to comprise a series of smaller events on important themes with a targeted group of scientists through the year. This is followed up by a session for youth, especially schoolchildren, to motivate them to take up careers in science, and the celebration of a ‘Science Week’.

While the Indian Science Congress Association also holds a science congress for schools, that too is fast becoming a ritual. With hundreds of universities and lakhs of students, faculty and scientists at national institutes, there is a need to reach out in a more sustained, energetic way. The five-day jamboree should become a forum to promote science and careers in science. The Congress has to move beyond traditional methods and topics. The world of artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, genomics, space technology and the like awaits.

Internet, the social media, digital technologies and the visual media have ushered a sea change in the way science is communicated; this calls for a drastic overhaul in brainstorming sessions. The Congress, begun in 1914, was meant to showcase achievements in S&T. It was the first official function in the calendar year for the Prime Minister to make a policy statement or indicate priorities. Its significance needs to be restored.

M SomasekharAssociate Editor

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