Focus On Technology, Women Empowerment At 108th Indian Science Congress

Pune will host the 108th Indian Science Congress in January 2021 for the fourth time. The event, set to be held at Symbiosis International (deemed) University’s (SIU) Lavale campus between January 3 and 7 next year, will be based on the theme ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development With Women Empowerment’. It will focus on economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion of all communities using science and technology, said SB Mujumdar, Chancellor, SIU at a press meet held in the city on Thursday.
The event will also see deliberations on providing equal opportunities to women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while achieving sustainable development.
General president, Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) Vijay Laxmi Saxena; past president, ISCA Ashok Kumar Saxena; pro chancellor, SIU Vidya Yeravdekar; Vice-Chancellor, SIU Rajani Gupte and Fean, Faculty of Health Sciences, SIU Rajiv Yeravdekar were also present at the press meet.
“This is the first time that the event will be held on a campus that is located in a rural area. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event. Around 15,000 delegates including scientists, researchers, teachers, students, nobel laureates and luminaries from across the globe are expected to attend the event,” said Mujumdar.
Vidya Yeravdekar said, “The five-day summit will have 14 different sessions. There will be an exclusive session on village science congress. The area where SIU is located is surrounded by 23 villages and we are already working with five villages as if now. For this session, we will be inviting the sarpanches, heads of women self-help groups, gram panchayat members and villagers to discuss their issues on agriculture, waste management, sanitation, water scarcity and through science how we can help them will be discussed at the event.”