Vice Chancellor Sangam University Bhilwara Chief Guest Regional Science Congress JNV Kajra

Bhilwara, India, November 22, 2014 (Newswire.com) - The scheme of exchanging students from one state with another state makes the JNV schooling truly echo the lines in National anthem “Panjaba Sindhu Gujarata Maratha Dravid Utkala Banga”. JNV Kajra exchanges students from JNV Gujarat.

JNV Kajra was the host school for conducting the Regional Science Congress 2014 revolving around the theme International Year of Crystallography – IYCr2014. Kajra situated in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan between Pilani and Surajgarh is well known in India today for the Kajaria Havelis belonging to the captains of the industrial house of globally reputed Kajaria Ceramics. The congress which included various interactive sessions with invited experts as well a whole array of competitions had Teachers and Students from JNVs from 55 districts spread over the states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi participating in the same.

The Science Congress was inaugurated on 10 Nov 2014 which also coincided with UNESCO World Science Day with theme Quality Science Education: ensuring a sustainable future for all by Prof BR Natarajan President – Vice Chancellor Sangam University Bhilwara Rajasthan.

Prof Natarajan a well known name at national and international level in corporate as well as academic circles was introduced to the audience as a highly popular Proud to be BITSian who had done four degrees B.E. (Hons) MSc (Hons) MPhil and PhD all from Birla Institute of Technology and Science – BITS Pilani where he had also been Professor and Dean for three decades spearheading the Work Integrated Learning Programmes.

After the arrival of Chief Guest and Tilak ceremony, the lighting of the ceremonial lamp took place which was followed by Saraswati Vandana and a spectrum of dazzling dance performances by the JNV students.

Prof Natarajan opened his speech with Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s quote “In Science, we go through the discipline of eliminating the personal limitations of our minds and thus reach the comprehension of truth which is in the minds of the universal man". Our world is profoundly shaped by science and technology and hence challenges such as preserving the environment, reducing poverty and improving health require scientists capable of developing effective and feasible responses – and citizens who can engage in active debate on them.

Prof Natarajan reiterating the UNESCO World Science Day theme emphasized that Quality science education must spark students’ curiosity from an early age, Quality science education must take advantage of the new development in ICTs, Basic sciences education must trigger innovation that is essential to sustainable development and Quality science education must tackle both global and local challenges.

Last but not the least quality science education must focus on empowering girls by giving greater visibility to the achievements of women and girls in science, such as Prof Maryam Mirzakhani, who is the first woman to receive the prestigious Fields Medal in Mathematics this year. Further, the IYCr2014 was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the achievements of women crystallographers such as Dorothy Hodgkin, who synthesized several bio-molecules (insulin, penicillin, vitamin B12, etc.), and Rosalind Franklin, who contributed to the discovery of the crystal structure of DNA.

Prof Natarajan also pointed out that school students should view Science beyond Physics Chemistry Biology and Mathematics as Music with its amplitude and frequency is also a science and advised them to learn science beyond the goals of clearing entrance examinations for getting admission to IIT, BITS Pilani, AIIMS etc. 

Prof Natarajan congratulated Smt Samta Choubey Principal of host JNV Kajra and the entire team for the excellent organization of the entire congress. Shri Kesavdevji a senior citizen of Kajra who was instrumental in establishing the JNV at this location also spoke on the occasion. The inaugural function ended with a vote of thanks followed by lunch.