CHENNAI: The third edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held from October 13 to October 16 at the Anna University here.
The four-day event will be spread across Anna University, Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), National Institute of Ocean Technology and IIT-Madras. Mostly school students will participate.
The festival was first started in 2015 in IIT-Delhi and later last year in National Physical Laboratory of India.
Union minister of science and technology Dr Harsh Vardhan said scientists from across the country will participate. “Also, young scientists, kids and students from North-East will participate. There will be a huge science expo in 300 technologies,” he said. Students will also be given the opportunity to board the Sindu Sadhana ship. A new addition to this year will be a special session on women entrepreneurship, deep ocean research and a start-up summit, he said.
“We also expect some of the science and technology ministers of neighbouring countries to participate. So far, four countries have confirmed participation,” Vardhan said.
He said an app has been created for the event named ‘India International Science Festival’ and that can be downloaded. All details of the event will be uploaded on the app. Also, this year for the first time 400 NGOs will be participating in the event, the minister added.
Secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences M Rajeevan said there will be 15 events, including a science and technology ministers conclave, where ministers from neighbouring countries are expected. This will be held on the first day.
Other events include a science village wherein MPs will nominate five students from classes IX to XI and a teacher for each village. It will demonstrate representation of rural parts of India.