International Year of Chemistry - National Science Day Celebrations at Pilani Rajasthan Shridhar University

Online, March 1, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Despite the significant achievements such as Chandrayaan, Brahmos and many more, it is an undeniable fact that certain sections of Indian society are still guided by blind faith and beliefs. The basic objective for celebration of National Science Day is to spread the message of importance of science and its application among the people.

To popularize the benefits of scientific knowledge, 28th February is celebrated all over India as National Science Day (NSD) to mark the discovery of Nobel Prize winning Raman Effect by the great Indian Physicist Sir C. V. Raman in 1928 on same day. Raman Effect is a phenomenon in spectroscopy discovered by the eminent physicist while working in the laboratory of the Indian Association for the Cultivation of science - IACS Kolkata.

IUPAC, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization have declared year 2011 as International Year of Chemistry - IYC 2011 to celebrate the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind. February 28 also happens to be the birthday of Linus Pauling who won the undivided Nobel Prize twice - for Chemistry in 1954 and for Peace in 1962.

In the context of the above, Way to Transform Shridhar University Pilani chose the theme for National Science Day celebrations on 28 February 2011 as Challenges for the Chemical Sciences in the 21st Century.

Prof BR Natarajan Pro Vice Chancellor in his address to the faculty and students of Shridhar University highlighted the challenges in terms of Synthesis and Manufacturing: Creating and Exploiting New Substances and New Chemical as well as Physical Transformations; Isolating, Identifying, Imaging, and Measuring Substances and Structures; Chemical Theory and Computer Modeling; The Interface with Biology and Medicine; Materials by Design; Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry; Energy: Providing for the Future; National and Personal Security.