Monday, December 15, 2008

NOBEL LAUREATES’ SCIENCE CONCLAVE OPENS AT IIIT-ALLAHABAD

Monday, December, 15th 2008: The Nobel Laureates’ Science Conclave at IIIT-Allahabad, a week-long mega symposium, exhibition and lecture series on science and technology was inaugurated today by His Excellency, the Governor of Haryana, Dr A R Kidwai and Dr Abid Hussain, former ambassador of India to the US and a former Planning Commission member. Nobel Laureates Prof Claude Cohen Tannoudji and Prof A Slavnov were also present at the inauguration.

Speaking at the inauguration, His Excellency, Dr A R Kidwai said that Indian science students must take pride in the fact that 36 per cent of scientists in the core group at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA) are Indians. Elaborating on the contribution of Indian scientists and technocrats in the global arena, Dr Kidwai added that about 35 per cent of all Microsoft senior programmers are also Indians while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – the Mecca of Technology and Research – boasts of 12 senior professors of Indian origin. He also reminded the august gathering of IT professionals, students and Indian scientists that India or Bharat pioneered the development of Mathematics in the World by introducing the concept of ‘zero’ and the decimal system.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Claude Cohen Tannoudji while congratulating Indian students and scientists – while referring to the recent terror attacks in Mumbai and certain political disturbances in the region said that, “Science is the best tool against intolerance. The best answer to fanaticism and short-sightedness is to focus and concentrate on the development of a scientific temper in our young minds.” Earlier in the morning, Prof Tannoudji delivered a technical lecture on hi-tech and particle physics.

Dr M D Tiwari, founding director, IIIT-A, recollected his days as a student in 1969 where he had the privilege of attending a Lindau Conference of Nobel Laureates. He mentioned that as a young academician he had dreamt of organizing such a conference in India for Indian students and scientists and this was his dream come true. He stressed on the need to promote science in the country and elaborated on the need of the mainstream media to propagate and disseminate scientific knowledge. “Since the IIIT-A was founded in 1999, the institution was graced by the presence of several international dignitaries and even hosted a vice-chancellor’s conference,” he added.


For the first time in Asia, the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (IIIT-A) is hosting the biggest Asian gathering of international Nobel Laureates at the Nobel Laureates Conclave, IIIT, Allahabad from December 15 to 21st, 2008. The Nobel Laureates Conclave is part of the Science Conclave 2008.

A salient feature of this event is the Media Open House with the Nobel Laureates for Indian and international media persons – a program that will give the Indian media an opportunity to interact with the best brains from the international scientific community.

The Science Conclave is a Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of Science and Technology, Government of India initiative.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (IIIT-A) was established in 1999, as a centre of excellence in Information Technology and allied areas. The Institute was conferred the "University" status by the Government of India in the year 2000. The Institute hence is empowered to have a perpetual seal and award degrees subsequent to the conduct of its own examinations. IIIT-A is conceived with the ambitious objectives of developing professional expertise and skilled manpower in Information Technology (IT) and related areas.



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