Cool Bihari: Scientific Foresight 2007 successfully concluded

Scientific foresight event was successfully concluded in Patna yesterday after three days of brainstorming sessions on emerging opportunities and challenge in Science and technology. The event saw participation from students of various leading institutions who presented their papers on various themes.

Bihar is at the crossroads of a paradigm shift in the field of technology as the state is geared up to make headway with its talent pool. This was the final observation made by eminent speakers who participated in the Scientific Foresight – 2007. A three-day Scientific Foresight which concluded on Monday here showcased that how Bihar could jump over the IT bandwagon. The participating students showed their scientific acumen by presenting papers on science and spirituality and also on latest technology.

A resolution was taken to reach technology to the villages of Bihar. Finance and IT commissioner of Bihar, Navin Kumar said that a plan had already been prepared to put the state at par with the five leading states in the IT area. He informed the audience that BSWAN (Bihar State Wide Area Network) is a policy which would interconnect all 45 departments of the government with the 38 districts of Bihar to facilitate communication in the state. He also said that IT-enabled services would be provided to 8463 panchayats of the state through e-kiosk named Vasudha.

The highlight of the programme was introducing students to the benefit of innovation based on scientific approach. Mehmood Alam from Unilever said innovation was important for economic advancement. “It is not that only big MNCs could innovate. It is being already done at village level in the country,” he said. He counseled that innovations which are being done at village level must be taken into account at global level.

Dr. Anil Gupta, a teacher from IIM, Ahmedabad said that an occasion like this appears to be a beginning of renaissance in Bihar. He opined, “Bihar is getting out of the culture of patronage which is being replaced by creativity which is a sign of renaissance.” Dr. Gupta observed that the power of muscle is now replaced by the power of mind in the state. He called upon the youth to unburden their minds of the legacy of elders and start thinking afresh.

At Scientific Foresight, students from various schools and colleges presented their papers on science and technology. Ankit Anand, a student from Science College put his paper on “Possibilty of space transport using radiation” Good papers were rewarded with first, second and third prizes won by students from Patna.

The country’s topmost luminaries of the field presented papers and offered suggestions on innovating new ideas. Principal Secretary of Science and Technology, Ajay Kumar who was instrumental in organizing Scientific Foresight said that scientific talent in rural areas should be encouraged.

Read more about Scientific Foresight at the links below.

Video of Scientific Foresight Inaugaration

Second day Highlights

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