GUWAHATI, Feb 28 - The Science Fair 2016 organised by Cotton University and the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology got off to a great start with the inaugural speech by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who stressed on the importance of science and a need to formulate a long-term science policy to further develop science in the State.
Prof Jiten Goswami, former Director, Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), delivered an exciting talk on �Space exploration: the Indian scene� to a packed audience, which was followed by an extended interactive session with the young participants with lots of questions.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the science exhibition with about a hundred exhibits from school, college and university students, NGOs, research institutes, government agencies and enthusiastic entrepreneurs. Gogoi also interacted with the young participants, got his blood group and body mass index estimated by the Cotton University students, and appreciated the model of the hargila (Greater Adjutant) which has been adopted as the mascot of the fair.
A UNICEF programme on water and public health coordinated by Tahseen Alam was also held which was well attended. The mathematics puzzle solving corner, presented by Ruma Talukdar of Cotton College, also attracted many enthusiasts. The senior quiz programme was conducted by Maharnav Gogoi.
The all-women �Hargila Army� from Dodora gave a lively demonstration of conservation efforts for the endangered bird species at the grassroots level. Several science films were also shown in the fair.
The day�s programme ended with a talk by Debasish Bora of IIT Guwahati on one of the most recent discoveries of the century � gravity waves.
Talks by Dr Goutam Narayan and Dr Dinesh Goswami, junior quiz, short talk competition, science movies, chemistry magic show by students of B Borooah College are on tomorrow�s agenda, while the exhibition will remain open for all the interested people, informed Prof DJ Saikia, Vice Chancellor, Cotton College State University, in a press release.
Science Day: The National Science Day was celebrated at Regional Meteorological Centre, Borjhar, Guwahati with a series of scientific lecture on different topics delivered by Dr SO Shaw, NK Devnath, PK Mahanta, R Ghosh, MP Luitel, NC Bhuyan, BC Das, RC Debnath, KC Sarkar and M Sarma. The function was anchored by Suruj Gogoi, a press release issued by RMC director Dr Sanjay O�Neill Shaw stated.
