GUWAHATI: The Ministry of Science and Technology has come up with large scale opportunities to fund innovative research projects at different levels to universities, colleges as well as to individual researchers for the progress of scientific research in the country.
This was stated here today by Dr Amitava Roy, Scientist-F from Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. Dr Roy was at the University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya to address the students and the scientific community on the occasion of National Science Day. He also took part in the Science Exhibition with the theme “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future”and encouraged the students through meaningful interactions.
Delivering the Keynote Address at a conference in USTM, Dr Amitava Roy said that a considerable number of programmes have been undertaken by the government while several have been announced recently for funding. Giving a power point presentation, he said that the Science Engineering Research Board (SERB) is an autonomous body for funding research and it has started operation recently. “The Technology innovation policy for societal movement was initiated in 2013 and now the Government is emphasizing on sustainable inclusive growth through different policies.
In his detailed presentation, Dr Roy stated that research proposals coming from rural areas, especially from the north-eastern region is very less. Only 23 projects from Assam, one from Arunachal Pradesh, two from Tripura, one from Nagaland, four projects from Mizoram, two from Meghalaya and three projects from Manipur were sanctioned by SERB during 2010-2017, he added. He explained on how to write proposals, what the funding authorities expect in a proposal, adding that researchers or institutions should also try to get fund from industries apart from the Government.
Altogether 1000 students from USTM and RIST were engaged in the science exhibition. All the faculty members took serious initiative to guide the students to present innovative models in the mega science exhibition. The departments of Physics and Applied Biology took the lead to organise the event. The sub themes of the science exhibition were: a) Renewable Energy, Power Conservation and Management, b) Low cost housing, environment safety and Waste management, c) Education and Social Development, d) Food, agriculture and Health, e) IT Enabled services, Technology and Sustainable Development.