Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the eighth Indian International Science Festival being held in Bhopal should be used to develop scientific attitude of the students of the state. A large number of school and college level students should be involved in the festival.

This event will help in understanding scientific concepts and attracting youth towards new trends in science. The effort should be that the students get inspiration and guidance from this event. India's ancient scientific contribution and outlook should also be presented in the festival.

Chouhan was reviewing the preparations for the eighth Indian International Science Festival to be held at MANIT Bhopal on January 21. In the meeting held at Samatva Bhavan, Principal Secretary Science and Technology Shri Nikunj Srivastava along with officials of Union Ministry of Science and Technology, Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology and Vigyan Bharti Sanstha were present.

The Chief Minister said that the achievements made by the youths of Madhya Pradesh in the field of Science should be publicised using social media. All science colleges, engineering colleges, polytechnics, ITIs etc. of the state should be linked virtually with the various activities to be held in the festival. Present Advaita Vedanta linking it to science in the festival. There is a need to tell the young generation that religion and science are not opposite to each other but are complementary.

It was informed that the Eighth International Science Festival is being held at MANIT Bhopal from January 21 to 24. This programme being conducted by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology and Vigyan Bharti is being coordinated at the local level by the Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology.

The main objective of the programme is to promote science and technology to reach among the general public and celebrate science as a festival. Chouhan will be the chief guest of the programme and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Shri Jitendra Singh will be specially present. School children from different districts of the state will also participate in the festival.

The programme will have 15 major components. It include Artisans Technology Village-Vocal for -Local focusing on the technology of Indian artisans, Face to Face with New Frontiers in Science for exchange of idea among researchers, Guinness World Records, International Science Film Festival of India, Mega Science and Technology Exhibition, National Social Organisation and Institutions Meet, New Age Technology Show, Science Through Games and Toys, Startup Conclave, State Science and Technology Councils Conclave, Student Innovation Festival, Students Science Village, Vagyanika-Science Literature Festival, Young Scientist Conference, Mentoring and Counseling Scientific discussions.

ISRO Chairman SK Somanath, CMD of Bharat Biotech Krishna Ella along with many scientists will attend. Exhibitions will be organised by Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Culture, Science and Technology Department, Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, Tribal Welfare, School Education, Technical Education, Ayush, Health, Environment, Urban Development and Housing, Minerals, Cottage and Village Industries, Agriculture, Forest, Narmada Valley Development Authority and the Water Resources Department.

In the cultural programme, playback singer Shri Kailash Kher will give presentation on the evening of January 21, artists from Madhya Pradesh on January 22 and Indian Ocean Rock Band on January 23. Arrangements have been made for the physical participation of the students in the festival.