Nobel laureate James Watson, Nature editor for science meet

CHENNAI, Jan 3: The mega-scientific convention in the country, the 86th Indian Science Congress, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister At...

CHENNAI, Jan 3: The mega-scientific convention in the country, the 86th Indian Science Congress, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the premier Anna University campus in the city tomorrow.

Several big names in the scientific world like Nobel laureate Professor James Watson, President of the US National Academy Bruce Alberts and leading international magazine `Nature’ Editor Dr Philip Campbell, will give lectures at the five-day congress. Chennai, which is emerging as the `science city’ of the country, is hosting the mega-event after over four decades.

Over 3000 delegates are expected to take part in the congress. The focal theme of the Science Congress will be `New Biosciences: Opportunites and challenges as we move into the next millennium’.

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The star attraction of this year’s congress will be Prof James Watson, who along with scientist Sir Crick, discovered the DNA structure of the cells to win the Nobel prize. Prof Watson will chair the plenary session.

Briefingmediapersons in the city about the Science Congress, Dr Manju Sharma, General President of the Indian Science Congress Association, said that the plenary sessions will address important issues related to agriculture, gene technology, health, ecology, biodiversity, forensic science and several policy matters, including public understanding of scientists. The congress will provide opportunities for a fruitful interface among the leading and the upcoming scientists, Anna University Vice Chancellor R M Vasagam said.

A virtual who’s who in the scientific field in India — from Abdul Kalam, the scientific advisor to the Defence Ministry, to eminent scientists M S Swaminathan, Prof M G K Menon, Kasturi Rangan and U R Rao will be in the city for the next five days, to give lectures at the congress.

At the inaugural function today, Union Ministers for Science and Technology Murli Manohar Joshi, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, State Governor Fathima Beevi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi andTamil Nadu Education Minister K Anbazhagan are slated to participate.

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The Prime Minister A B Vajpayee will also inaugurate a science and technology exhibition, also being organised as part of the congress and distribute the prestigious `Young Scientists’ award to budding scientists.

The executive committee and council members of the Indian Science Congress Association met today at the Anna University to give final touches to the preparations for the congress. A few top scientists in the country, including Dr Manju Sharma, Prof V S Ramamurthy, Secretary of Department of Science and Technology, Dr R Mashelkar, Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr P Rama Rao, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Prof U R Rao, member, Space Commission and Prof S K Joshi, former CSIR chief, attended the meeting.