Pune’s NCCS hosts curtain raiser to inspire young minds

Shreeprasad M K, zonal organising secretary of Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), Paschim Kshetra, outlined the purpose and evolution of IISF and urged students to nurture a scientific temperament grounded in curiosity, logic and inquiry. “All students in our country may not get the opportunity to visit the IISF, but they should still be aware of it. To spark curiosity about science and give them exposure to the kind of research happening in institutes like NCCS, we organised this event. Our aim is to inspire students and help them develop a genuine interest in the field of science,” he said.

Prof Sharmila Bapat, director (additional charge), NCCS, also encouraged the students to explore a career in science. After giving an overview of the BioE3 initiative of the Department of Biotechnology, she also motivated students to participate in the DBT’s D.E.S.I.G.N for BioE3 challenge. The competition announced every month aims to empower the youth to solve critical issues of their time.

After the inaugural session, the visiting students and teachers were taken on guided tours across NCCS’s research facilities. They explored the National Cell Repository, visited the Bioinformatics and Flow Cytometry labs, Bioimaging, Proteomics and DNA Sequencing units and Microbiology exhibits. It allowed students to interact with experts giving them a glimpse into real-time laboratory work and scientific discovery.

The IISF is an annual nationwide celebration of science, jointly organised by various science ministries and departments along with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA). The 2025 edition, coordinated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, will take place at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

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