Panaji: February 3, 2018 … The 2nd edition of ‘Nobel Prize Series India 2018 with a theme Science Impact Lives’ and the ‘Nobel Science Exhibition and the India Science Exhibition: Ideas Changes the world’ was inaugurated by Chief Minister Shri. Manohar Parrikar at Darya Sangam, Kala Academy recently. The Nobel Prize Series India 2018 is organized by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with Nobel Media AB Sweden, the Nobel Museum and Government of Goa.
Secretary of Department of Bio-Technology Padmashree Prof. K. Vijayaraghvan, CEO, Nobel Media Dr. Mathias Fyrenius along with Nobel Laureates Christiane Nusslein-Volhard, Serge Haroche, Richard J. Roberts, Tomas Lindahl and Director of the Nobel Museum Dr. Olov Amelin, Consul General of Sweden for Mumbai Ulrika Sundberg were present on the occasion.
In his address, the Chief Minister said that India has always given importance to knowledge. “We are grateful to the organizers for this opportunity. Goa has a scientific legacy with some of the eminent scientists such D.D. Kosambe, Raghunath Mashelkar etc. Our government seeks to reinforce Goa’s status as a scientific hub of India by promoting scientific temperament. We want to be a knowledge powerhouse that will influence nation’s growth and address the most critical development issues,” the Chief Minister said.
He further announced that an annual ‘Innovation in Science Contest’ for senior school and college students will be held, where students will be invited to propose breakthrough ideas with due help from the Government. He also proposed to set up an annual Goa Nobel Lecture series. “We want to make Goa a home for next-generation Nobel Laureates,” he stated. He urged the teachers and the students to make the best of this opportunity and participate in the Nobel dialogues in next two days.
Prof Cristin Nusslein Volhard, one of the Nobel Laureate, in her address said that Science not only meant to improve mankind but to encourage basic research. “Basic research is not directly aimed towards discovery but to understand complications,” she said. Prof. Volhard also informed that she is currently working on fish and their patterns and colors. She urged the students to be curious, ask questions and discover things to help mankind.
Prof. K. Vijayraghavan and Dr. Mathais Fyrenius gave the welcome addresses. The Chief Minister later presented mementos to the Nobel Laureates. Smt. Siddhi Upadhey compered while Secretary of Department of Science and Technology Shri. Daulat Hawaldar IAS proposed the vote of thanks.
Director of Higher Education Shri. Prasad Lolayekar, Member Secretary of Pollution Control Board Shri. Levinson Martins, Director of Information and Publicity Shri. T.S. Sawant, Shri. Suhas Godse, senior Government officials, teachers and students of various schools and others attended the event.
The Nobel series is the beginning of a five days unique program to stimulate engagement in science, literature that will take place in Goa, Mumbai, and Delhi. Nobel Laureates will give lectures, and take part in roundtable discussions and meetings with experts and students. A conference for students will take place in Goa and a National session will be hosted by President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
The exhibition will be open for public from February 2 – 25. It is a unique opportunity to learn about the life of Alfred Nobel, view actual objects belonging to Nobel Laureates and see how Nobel Prize‐awarded discoveries may affect the future.
On February 2 and 3, 2018 the Nobel Laureates will attend Nobel Dialogues- an interaction with students and teachers from schools, colleges and university at Kala Academy while on February 3, they will have dialogues with scientists from National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula.
