The 12th edition of inSCIgnis, Tezpur University’s (TU) annual science festival, organized by the Students’ Science Council of TU, commenced today. inSCIgnis is organized on the occasion of National Science Day, which is celebrated in India on February 28 each year to commemorate the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman.
The inaugural ceremony, held at the KBR auditorium of the University, was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr. Ujjwal Kumar Baruah, Project Director of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor-India (ITER), who served as the Chief Guest, and Dr. Pradip Kumar Bora, Director of the North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM), who was the Guest of Honour.
Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University, delivered the inaugural address and explained the theme for this year’s inSCIgnis: Curiosity: To Decode the Wonders of Reality Through Science. He emphasized that curiosity is the driving force behind every scientific endeavor. “It is through curiosity that we question the world around us; and try to uncover the mysteries of the universe,” the Vice Chancellor stated.
Mr. Ujjwal Kumar Baruah, Chief Guest, gave a presentation titled “Simulating the Sun: Fusing Atoms.” He stated that the golden period of physics was in the 1960s and emphasized the importance of popularizing science through effective communication. He also highlighted that exceptional research papers are often written in one’s mother tongue, citing Chinese research journals as an example.
Dr. Pradip Kumar Bora stated that India’s budgetary allocation for science and technology is quite low. He also pointed out that India ranks poorly on the innovation index. He noted that India’s education system previously promoted rote learning and emphasized that knowledge should be prioritized over marks. He cautioned that while celebrating our past achievements, we must avoid promoting pseudoscience.
Prof. Robin Kumar Dutta, Dean of the School of Sciences, stated that India is lagging behind leading countries in science. However, he advocated for focusing on indigenous research rather than blindly copying Western approaches.
The dignitaries inaugurated Anunaad, the annual science magazine, on the occasion. Dr. Rupjyoti Gogoi, faculty coordinator of the event, outlined the various activities lined up for the event over the next three days, including science exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and quizzes.
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