Guwahati : To commemorate the discovery of ‘Raman Effect’ by Sir CV Raman that earned him the Nobel Prize in 1930, February 28 is celebrated as National Science Day in India every year. The day is celebrated to mark the significance of Science and the contribution made by scientists to humankind, with different themes every year. The theme for National Science Day 2021 is ‘Future of STI: Impact on Education Skills and Work’. Keeping accordance with the theme, Assam down town University (AdtU) celebrated the 35th National Science Day to encourage young minds to develop a scientific bent in their approach towards life and society.
A plethora of events were held to mark the celebration viz. Lecture by prominent Scientists, interaction with Space Scientist from France, On Spot Science Quiz Competition, Essay Competition, Painting Competition, Poster Making Competition and Science Model Competition. AdtU also announced the ‘Rural Innovation Awards 2021’to eight innovators of the region, who are working in different areas of the rural sector for the upliftment of quality of life of villagers.
The celebration started with flag hoisting by Dr. NC Talukdar, Vice Chancellor of Assam down town University followed by his inaugural speech. “Today’s star attraction are our students who have come to celebrate this day for Science. We want to inspire our students in such a way that we have the next Nobel Laureate from India” Dr. NC Talukdar said. “Solutions come from devotion towards Science” he added. Citing example of Sir Isaac Newton, he said that observing, asking the right questions and finding answers is what makes Science great. Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Professor S Baruah said “The whole idea behind organising the Science Day is to inspire school students to explore the wonderful world of Science through observations and experimentations. Science is for everyone and students should not feel that lack of access to expensive instruments cannot bring the scientist out of them”. Two lectures followed thereafter.
Eminent speakers for the day were Priyanka Rajkakati and Arunabh Sharma. Piryanka Rajkakati, who is an Aerospace Engineer by profession and an artist at heart. A double-degree engineering graduate from Ecole Polytechnique and ISAE-Supaéro in France, she is currently pursuing a PhD in GNSS technology at ISAE-Supaéro. In January 2020, she took part in the EMMIHS-III lunar analogue-astronaute mission as commander-in-training, a mission for simulating what living on the Moon would be like. She is also involved with the ILEWG Euro Moon Mars Program as an artist for the Moon Gallery, which will take her artwork to the Moon in 2022. On the side, she is actively involved in STEM outreach: as ambassador for L’ORÉAL-UNESCO “For Girls in Science” program, as organiser of the SGAC “Our Giant Leap” initiative, and as part of the 5th cohort of the Homeward Bound Antarctica mission. She talked about how the moon formed and several lunar exploration missions, along with interacting with the students.
Arunabh Sharma is currently working as a scientist and a doctoral researcher at Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics (IMIS) at the University of Kiel in Germany. Prior to this, he had multiple research experiences in India as a Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) as well as at CSIR-OSDD Research Unit located at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Arunabh has a Master’s degree (M.Sc.) from Dibrugarh University (Assam) and also from the University of Bonn (Germany). Currently, Arunabh is involved with multiple projects under the University Medical Center in Kiel. He emphasized on developing oneself to ask the right questions, and focus on what and how. He also talked on how to proceed and about scholarships.
The lectures were followed by opening of the Exhibition, that saw participation from students of the university as well as other institutions from around Guwahati.
The On Spot Quiz Competition followed; winner and first runner up of the competition were the respective teams both from SSA, Dispur. The second runner up position was bagged by the team from Modern High School, Geetanagar.
In the flagship event of the day – Rural Innovation Awards 2021 – that is the brainchild of Chancellor of AdtU Dr. NN Dutta, the Guest of Honour for the Award Ceremony was Dr. USN Murty, Director of NIPER Guwahati. He said that Science is nothing but Focus, Keen Interest, Discipline and Interest. Other eminent personalities on the dais included Chancellor of AdtU Dr. NN Dutta, Vice Chancellor Dr. NC Talukdar, Professor Bandana Dutta, Dean of Studies of AdtU, Manoj Kr Das, Managing Director of NERAMAC, renowned meteorologist Dr. Bhupendra Nath Goswami who is also an awardee of the prestigious Bhatnagar Prize. Out of 36 applicants, eight innovators were selected by prominent jury members for the award. “All these innovators may not have a very high formal degree, but their minds work in a different way” said Dr. NC Talukdar. “And it’s high time we come out of the Covid fear and start our journey whole heartedly in the working and professional realm” he added. Dr. NN Dutta shared stories from his childhood and his attempt to become a scientist and thereafter becoming a doctor. The panel also urged the innovators to continue with their path breaking works.
Awardees of the Assam down town University Rural Innovation Awards 2021 are:
- Karuna Kanta Nath from Darrang, for manual wood cutting machine and manual bamboo cross cutting machine.
- Milon Jyoti Das from Kamalpur, for Nilakantha rural egg incubator.
- Kaushik Baruah from Golaghat, for process of reeling cut and pierced Muga waste cocoon.
- Chinmoy Sharma from Guwahati, for Organic Fertilizer from garbage.
- Sadananda Choudhury from Sualkuchi, for Eri Spining machine.
- Mehtar Hussain and Md. Mostak Ahmed from Darrang, for low cost bamboo wind mill.
- Amrit Madhuri Devi from Tezpur, for an innovative food processor making value added products from the indigenous fruits and vegetables.
- Dharmananda Bormudoi from Biswanath, for Underground Sediment Deposit Multi-Stage Water Filter.
Winners of the Essay Competition are:
- Chayanka Kashyap from Maharishi Vidya Mandir (First), Darathi Bharadwaj from Modern Senior Secondary School (Second) and Arpita Pradhan from Modern English School in Group A (Class VIII-X).
- Murchana Bhuyan from Maharishi Vidya Mandir (First), Jita Moni Das (Second) and Hrishikesh Goswami from Sai RNS Academy (Third) in Group B (Class XI-XII).
Winners of the painting competition are:
- Dishank Chakraborty (First),Amanjeet MS (Second) and Sania Akhtar (Third) in the category ‘Life during Lockdow’ (Class III-V).
- Tanmoy Malakar (First), Sonali Biswas (Second) and Akash Chandra (Third) in the category ‘Science in Agriculture’ (Class VI-VII).
The University administration also provided refreshments and lunch for all participating students, teachers and staff members.
