Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. Science of today is the technology of tomorrow. The whole of science is nothing but a refinement of everyday thinking. It is simply the word we use to describe a method of organizing our curiosity. Knowing our science is our way of thinking. Every year on February 28, National Science Day is commemorated to mark the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by Indian Scientist and Physician C.V. Raman, which became operational on February 28, 1928.
The Raman effect is a phenomenon in which a light beam passing through a transparent material is scattered in a way that reveals information about the material’s molecular structure.
The theme of this year was “Global Science for Global Well-being,” which reflects the country’s growing global significance and international visibility. It is observed every year to commemorate the importance of science and the impact it has had on the lives of humans. National Science Day is widely observed not only by Indians but also by people from other countries.
Technology Students Gymkhana of IIT Kharagpur celebrated National Science Day on 28th February 2023 in the Netaji Auditorium of the Institute. Students from nearby schools were invited to attend the program. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Amit Patra, Deputy Director in the august presence of Prof. Rabibrata Mukherjee, Associate Dean, Student Affairs, IIT Kharagpur and Prof. Ajay Kumar Singh, President Gymkhana, IIT Kharagpur. A day long programme was planned to celebrate the spirit of knowledge sharing and innovations. One of our eminent professor, Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Mechanical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur enlightened the audience with a talk on the topic, “How School Level Science May Lead to Innovative Technologies for Rural Healthcare,” followed by a quiz competition. The convenor of the programme was Prof. Aditya Bandhopadhyay. The Kgpians also resorted to great enthusiasm during hardware modelling and demonstration by societies.
Hardware Modelling involved model presentation and design of different mechanized electronic devices. Team Cart, Kharagpur RoboSoccer Student’s Group, Computer Graphics Society, Technology Robotix Society, Aerial Robotics Kharagpur and Autonomous Ground Vehicle participated in demonstrating hardware model. During the model show, drones flew high in the dusky sky to claim new heights of greatness.
The students of IIT Kharagpur also participated in the Science Exhibition, a competition on making science toys displayed in the exhibition. This exhibition encouraged the students to take up hardware modelling projects further.
A panel discussion was also organized by the Office of Outreach on Science & Religion. Prof. Amitava Datta (Retd.), High Energy Physics, Jadavpur University was the Guest speaker of the event along with Prof. Joy Sen, Chairman, Centre of Excellence Indian Knowledge System, IIT Kharagpur. Other panellist include Prof. Manas Kumar Mandal, Distinguished Visiting Professor, Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness, IIT Kharagpur and Prof. Sudeshna Sarkar, Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kharagpur. Prof. Arjun Mukerji, Architecture & Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur was the convener of the panel discussion. The audience was at the grasp of being spellbound when the discussion on the topic ‘Region of a Scientist’ was discussed among the panelist.
The goal of National Science Day is to inspire and motivate students to pursue careers in science. Dr. C.V. Raman was a well-known scientist who was born in Tamil Nadu on November 7, 1888, and made numerous contributions to the field of science. C.V. Raman’s great discovery earned him the Nobel Prize and to celebrate the anniversary of this discovery, the Government of India is assisting scientists whose contributions have been significant in the field of science.
National Science Day is celebrated to raise awareness on the importance of science. The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1986, asked the Government of India to announce February 28 as National Science Day. The first National Science Day was celebrated on February 28, 1987.
By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007
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