The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, India, will host the 96th Indian Science Congress (ISC), the biggest annual scientific event in the country, in January 2009. The ISC will be attended by around 5,000 delegates including well-known Indian and foreign scientists. This includes some Nobel laureates who will also deliver lectures. Scheduled events include a panel discussion on "Technological and Societal Responses to Climate Change", as well as scientific exhibitions by various organisations.
The focal theme for ISC-2009 is 'Science Education and Attraction of Talent for Excellence in Research'. The five-day event seeks to popularise science among the youth. The theme has been chosen to prepare the nation for 2025, when the median age of people in country would be 29.8 years.
Besides deliberations on the latest developments in science and technology, forging industry-institute linkages would be the highlight of a day-long event, Genesis-VIII, to be organised on the sidelines of the ISC. The theme of the event is 'Need for Innovative Public-Private Partnership model for promoting Science Education to Empower Emerging India'. A mega exhibition showcasing emerging technologies, products, services, innovations, research work and achievements of the country's public and private sector organisations, research labs and educational institutions will also be organised on the sidelines of the ISC.
The Indian Science Congress Association was set up with the aim of stimulating scientific research in the country by organising annual meetings of researchers, publishing journals and popularising science. The first meeting was held in 1914 at the premises of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta, and an annual meeting is being held ever since.
