Use scientific tools to make people’s life better, says Negi

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, Februay 10

Science and Technology Minister Surendra Singh Negi today said the top priority must be given to using science a tool for facilitating common man and making his life easier and better.

Negi inaugurated the 10th Uttarakhand State Science and Technology Congress (USSTC) 2015-16 at Vigyan Dham at Jhajra in Dehradun today. He said knowledge gained on the basis of experience attained over the last thousands of years by human beings must be linked with the latest technical knowledge to make it more relevant.

Negi stressed the importance of drinking water and said a scientific technology should be invented to purify water resources to ensure safe drinking water. “Also, efforts must be made so that women in hill areas become technologically sound in agriculture”, he added.

He appreciated the works and achievements of UCOST and said it could coordinate with various scientific and educational institutions of the state as a representative of scientific agencies. He expressed happiness at the scientific temperament which UCOST has developed in the state. He said the Regional Science Centre at Vigyan Dham was a hit with students and other people.

Earlier, Director General of UCOST Dr Rajendra Dobhal said more than 600 researchers from various universities and higher education institutions of the state were participating in the congress this year. The participation of women in the scientific field was increasing, he added.

The minister honoured three renowned scientists, namely Prof RD Gaur for outstanding contribution to the field of plant sciences, Dr BR Arora for outstanding contribution to earth sciences and Prof SP Singh for outstanding contribution to the field of environmental sciences

Dr. Parmveer Singh Ahuja, Director of the Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology, Palampur, Himanchal Pradesh, highlighted the evolution of life on earth and how innovation in science and technology played a crucial role in its development. He said the country could come up with the best of mathematicians, biologist, chemists and engineers if all decide to work together.

Dr MO Garg, Director of the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, cited various examples to motive researchers of Uttarakhand to focus on how research could serve the mankind. The Uttarakhand Science Congress this year is being organised in collaboration with the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun and the NASI, Uttarakhand Chapter.