GUWAHATI, Feb 28 - National Science Day 2020 on the theme �Women in Science� was observed at the Royal School of Applied & Pure Sciences (RSAPS) on Friday.
Prof Latha Rangan, head of bio-science and bio-engineering at IIT Guwahati, spoke on �Footprint of Women in Science�, highlighting how women broke gender barriers, were leaders in early innovation and conviction and inspired other women. She spoke on the contributions of Barbara Ms Clintock (Jumping Genes), Prof Asima Chatterjee (Phytomedicine), Missile Woman Tessy Thomas, etc., much to delight of the young students� impressionable minds.
To further motivate the students, Prof Rangan recalled former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam�s pearls of wisdom � �Without your involvement you cannot succeed, with your involvement you cannot fail�.
Prof Sreemayee Bora from the Department of Mathematics, IITG, spoke on the early pioneers such as Amalie E Noether, Marie Sophie Germais and Vera Kublanavskaya who remained unknown for decades but were later recognised as wonder women scientists for their innovative ideas and inventions.
Prof SP Singh, Vice Chancellor of Royal Global University (RGU), shared his experience in science, management, allied sciences and related it all to the great discovery by Sir CV Raman.
Prof AK Buragohain, Chairperson (Academic), RGU, spoke on the importance of National Science Day and contribution of women in science. Prof Anuradha Devi, Dean, RSAPS, said there can never be gender discrimination in science as both men and women struggle and achieve the same end results.
The programme was organised by RSAPS in association with the Royal School of Life Sciences and Royal School of Bio-Sciences. Competitions were also held on elocution, quiz and poster presentation.
At Assam Jatiya Bidyalay: Assam Jatiya Bidyalay, Noonmati, today observed the Day with a daylong programme to commemorate the discovery of the �Raman Effect. A State-level science exhibition along with a competition was held among students from Class VIII to X on scientific experiment, science model and project. The same competition was also held among the students from Class V to VII to promote scientific temper.
Along with the students of the school, a total of 150 students of 53 groups belonging to 26 schools from different parts of the State took part in the competition.
Dr Kandarpa Phukan, Associate Professor, Dept of Chemistry, Handique Girls� College; Dr Samik Banerjee, Associate Professor, Dept of Physics, B Borooah College and Dr Bidyut Kr Das, Associate Professor, Dept of Zoology, Nalbari College, were present as judges of the competition.
The chief guest of the programme, Dr Debendra Chandra Baruah from the Dept of Energy, Tezpur University, spoke on the importance of the Day and advised the students to gather knowledge on the new technologies like genetics, 3D printing, robotics, etc., after inaugurating the annual science magazine of the school Prabhat.
Dr Baruah, however, expressed concern at the alarming misuse of mobile phones among students and urged them not to fall prey to any such distractions. He urged the students to enhance their scientific zeal and contribute to the field of science through observation and innovation.
Tanmoy Sarma, a former student of Assam Jatiya Bidyalay and currently a research scholar in the Dept of Sociology, Yale University, United States, also addressed the students.
At the end of the programme, prizes were distributed to the winners of the contests.