The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) Allahabad held its 85th annual session at the KIIT University here and organised a national symposium on ‘Marine and Freshwater Ecosystem for National Development’ on the occasion recently.
This prestigious meet was held in Odisha after a gap of 19 years.
The symposium discussed in detail on aquatic ecosystem conservation, restoration and management, including hydrological and biophysical aspects, peoples’ participation and Government organisations with a focus towards future research needs, said Prof Manju Sharma, former president of the NASI.
NBRC president Prof PN Tandon graced the occasion as chief guest.
Among others, Secretary to Government of India Dr S Ayyappan, JNU VC Prof SK Sopory, Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretyary Dr Shailesh Nayak, Goa University VC Dr SR Shetye, Biotech Park, lucknow CEO Prof Pramod Tandon, Institute of life Sciences, Bhubaneswar Prof Subrata Das, KIIT VC Prof PP Mathur and other senior scientists of world repute were present.
Several awards were also given on this occasion, as NASI-Reliance Industries (four awards, each of Rs2 lakh) and NASI-Young Scientist Awards (13 awards, each of Rs25,000) and NASI-Swarna Jayanti Puraskars were given away.
More than 500 young and senior scientist participated in the three-day programme from all across the country.
On the concluding day, about 400 students from about 23 schools attended a parallel programme (Children Science Meet) jointly organised by the Academy and KIIT. Students got the opportunity to interact one-to-one with the top level scientists.