Manipur University to host the annual session of the Indian Science Congress on 15 March

Imphal, capital of **Manipur** is all set to host the annual session of the **Indian Science Congress** for the first time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the 105th session of the congress on 16 March. Manipur University will host the science congress. [caption id=“attachment_3186004” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian Science Congress. PTI[/caption] The focal theme for the 2018 Science Congress is “Reaching the Unreached through Science and Technology”. This year the focus will be on translational science for promoting affordable and sustainable innovation. During the five-day program, the focus will be on various scientific disciplines and how they can connect with the society. Nobel laureates, Field Medal winners in mathematics and leading scientists will be among those slated to address different sessions at the annual event. Young Scientists Awards will also be conferred during the function. A technology-based startup conclave also will be showcased, inviting top innovators and entrepreneurial researchers. The highlights of the program include the children’s science congress, which will be inaugurated on 17 March, and the Women’s science congress, to be held on 18 and 19 March. In addition, there will be a Science Communicator’s Meet on 19 March. It is expected that around 5,000 delegates from all over the country will participate in the event, including students, academicians, members of science and engineering academies, officials of all ministers promoting science and technology and representatives of national science academies of different countries. The **104th Indian Science Congress** was held in Tirupati and the theme was “Science & Technology for National Development”. Last year Prime Minister in his inaugural speech had observed that “some of these important challenges are in the key sectors of clean water & energy, food, environment, climate, security, and healthcare. We equally need to keep an eye on the rise of disruptive technologies and be prepared to leverage them for growth. We need to clearly assess the challenges and opportunities for our technology readiness and competitiveness.” This year as the theme suggests, the congress is set to take these thoughts to the next level. The 105th science congress was scheduled to take place in Hyderabad this year in January but postponed. Osmania University, which was supposed to host the event, had expressed its inability to hold it. (India Science Wire)