National Science Day is observed annually on February 28 in India, to commemorate the discovery of the 'Raman Effect'. On the occasion of National Science Day, theme-based science communication activities are carried out all across the country.
National Science Day: History
In 1986, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) asked the Indian government to designate February 28 as National Science Day, the National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous organisation under the Union Ministry of Culture, said on its website.
The then Government of India accepted and declared February 28 as National Science Day.
National Science Day was celebrated for the first time on February 28, 1987.
National Science Day: Significance
National Science Day is celebrated annually on February 28 to commemorate the discovery of the 'Raman Effect'. Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, an Indian physicist, announced the discovery of the 'Raman Effect' on February 28, 1928.
The Indian physicist was awarded the 1930 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his work on the scattering of light and for the discovery of the effect named after him," the Nobel Prize organisation said on its website.
The basic objective of National Science Day is to spread the message of the importance of science and its application among people. Every year, National Science Day is celebrated as one of the main science festivals in India in order to achieve a number of goals.
The objectives include spreading a message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of people, displaying all the activities, efforts, and achievements in the field of science for the welfare of human beings, discussing all the issues and implementing new technologies for the development of science, and encouraging people as well as popularising science and technology, among others.
What Is The Raman Effect?
The Raman Effect is a phenomenon in spectroscopy (study of the absorption and emission of light and other radiation by matter, and the dependence of these processes on the wavelength of the radiation) discovered by CV Raman while working in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata.
Raman Effect is the change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules. When a beam of light traverses a dust-free, transparent sample of a chemical compound, a small fraction of the light emerges in all directions other than that of the incident beam. The wavelength of most parts of the scattered light remains unchanged.
However, a small part has wavelengths different from that of the incident light. This phenomenon occurs due to the Raman Effect.
National Science Day 2023: Theme
The theme for National Science Day 2023 is "Global Science for Global Wellbeing", according to the Department of Science and Technology. Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said in a statement that the theme indicates India's emerging global rate and rising visibility in the international arena.
The minister expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his meticulous guidance on the theme, subject and events of National Science Day, and said the theme is perfectly in sync with India assuming the G20 Presidency, where the country will become the voice of the global south.
Activities Conducted On National Science Day
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) acts as a nodal agency to support, catalyse, and coordinate the celebration of National Science Day throughout the country in scientific institutions, research laboratories, and autonomous scientific institutions associated with the DST.
On National Science Day, students of schools and colleges demonstrate various science projects. Also, national and state science institutions demonstrate their latest research.
National Science Day celebrations include public speech, talk shows on radio and television, science exhibitions based on themes and concepts, skywatching, live projects, research demonstration, debates, quiz competitions, lectures, exhibitions displaying science models, and several other activities.