A collaboration between The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India and the Nobel Media AB, Sweden has allowed the Nobel Prize Series to be held in India for 5 years. It is truly an exciting initiative which brings together Nobel Laureates and eminent scientists to stimulate innovation and creative thinking amongst young students of science. It was inaugurated yesterday by Goa’s Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar.
The Nobel Prize Series is a force to be reckoned with
Speaking at the inauguration of the Nobel Prize Series 2018, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that there is a strong need for reinforcing Goa’s status as India’s scientific hub. He said that it requires a strong focus on not only strengthening scientific education in our State but also promoting a scientific temperament.
Also present at the event were CEO, Nobel Media, Mathias Fyrenius; Nobel Laureates Richard J Roberts and Tomas Lindahl; Consul General of Sweden for Mumbai, Ulrika Sundberg; secretary of Department of Science and Technology, Daulat Hawaldar; director of higher education, Prasad Lolayekar and teachers, students and others.
There is also a travelling science exhibition titled ‘The Nobel Prize – Ideas Changing the World’ which is part of the Nobel Prize Series India 2018 was inaugurated on February 1 by Nobel Laureate Tomas Lindahl and Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar at Kala Academy, Panaji. Read more about it here.
Words from the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the Nobel Prize Series 2018 Inaugural
CM Parrikar further went on to say, “We are setting up two new education hubs in Goa. We seek to develop the capacity of our human capital, the most precious resource, into a knowledge powerhouse that fuels our nation’s growth and addresses our most critical development issues through innovation.”
Parrikar also said that he would endeavour to make sure that the momentum built by this event was carried forward and ensure that the importance of breakthroughs in scientific research was not lost. For the first step, he announced an annual contest for all higher secondary school and college students of Goa. Called ‘Innovation in Science’ contest, it is supposed to work in this manner. Students will be invited to propose breakthrough research ideas which the State Government will support for a period of one year. “We invite esteemed international scientists to help us choose and mentor chosen ideas, an exercise we will support for winners,” he said.
This entire event seems to have made such an impression on our CM that he also proposed that the Nobel Foundation set up an annual Goa Nobel Lecture series. He added: “My Government will be very happy to support and organise it. We want to make Goa the home to the next generation of Nobel Laureates.”
Other speakers at the event
Other speakers at the inaugural event included the Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), professor K Vijay Raghavan, Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation, Professor Carl-Henrik Heldin, Director of the Nobel Museum, Olov Amelin and Professor Christiane Nusslein-Volhard. Each had interesting things to say, all of which you can read about here.
For more information on the Nobel Prize Series and this year’s theme “Science Impacts Lives”, you can check out the official website.
Information credit – TOI, Navhind Times
