India International Science Festival 2023: The India International Science Festival (IISF) is back after three years. The ninth edition of the IISF, called IISF 2023, will begin on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (tomorrow). The mega science event, being organised by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISR), Department of Biotechnology, Department of Space, and Department of Atomic Energy, will be held in Faridabad, Haryana, from January 17 to January 20.
The IISF was last held in December 2021. The festival has been organised since 2015.
India International Science Festival 2023: Venue
The Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, and the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, both located in Faridabad, and with a joint campus, will host IISF 2023.
India International Science Festival 2023: What To Expect, And Who Will Attend
Like every year, this year's IISF too will witness a multitude of events, with students from across the country participating in different science activities, including those on physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics. Scientists, innovators, citizens, policymakers, industries, startups, science communicators, and other science enthusiasts will attend the event, where interactive sessions on topics such as nuclear medicine, space advancements, agriculture, molecular biology, and biotechnology will be held.
Some of the dignitaries who will grace the festival include S Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR; Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, and Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Science and Technology.
Professors from different colleges and universities will deliver lectures on interesting scientific topics.
India International Science Festival 2023: Theme And Objective
IISF 2023's theme is "Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal".
The aim of the mega event is to celebrate India's achievements in science and technology, acknowledge the feats of science enthusiasts, generate interest in science among young students, and increase awareness about the importance of science education.
India International Science Festival 2023: Events
On the first day of the festival, as many as 12 events will be held, which include Student Science Village, Science Through Games and Toys, and Space Hackathon, among others.
As many as 13 events will be held on January 18, the festival's second day. These include Vigyanika – Science Literature Festival, and Science and Technology Media and Communicators Conclave, among others.
On January 19, the third day of the festival, 11 events will be conducted, which include Education for Aspiring India, and New Age Technology Show, among others.
On January 20, which is the fourth and final day of the festival, eight events will be conducted.
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India International Science Festival 2023: Participating Countries
As many as 22 countries are participating at IISF 2023. These are: Argentina, Australia, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Indonesia, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Armenia, Cambodia, Germany, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and the United States of America (USA).
In order to create awareness about science aspects among different stakeholders, the IISF will organise outreach events in schools, laboratories, and research and development Institutes for around a month.