WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL - I
The first World Science Festival in 2003-4 adopted the theme 'From Life to Mind' and celebrated the golden jubilee of the discovery of the structure of DNA as well as the silver jubilee of in vitro fertilization. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was to have inaugurated the festival, but the outbreak of the Iraq war led to the cancellation of his Delhi visit. The festival, the first of its kind, brought many scientific luminaries together and also promoted dialogue between communities on bioethical issues.
WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL - II & CONFERENCES
'From Quanta to Cosmos' - A Century after Einstein's Annus Mirabilis
The Centre for Philosophy and Foundations of Science, in collaboration with other scientific institutions and agencies, proposes to organize the second World Science Festival and Conferences (WSF-II), at least on an India-wide basis. The theme will be the revolutionary developments in our understanding of the physical world, which began with the annus mirabilis of Albert Einstein in 1905. Two years later, in 1907, Einstein had what he callest the 'happiest thought of his life', a eureka moment which made the equivalence principle the cornerstone of his attempts to account for gravitation, which lead to his general theory of relativity. The objectives of the programme range from conveying the excitement and promise of contemporary developments at the frontiers of science and technology to the wider public, enhancing appreciation among the young for the pursuit of science, stimulating informed debate about the broader ethical and philosophical implications of emerging new technologies, encouraging dialogue between scientists and others in fostering the scientific enterprise, and catalyzing professional interactions on areas of common interest between scientists at the highest international level. The festival fare will include distinguished lectures, panel discussions, television interviews, plays, films, exhibitions, book launches and interactive events aimed at a general audience on the one hand and seminars and conferences intended for specialists on the other. Each conference will review the state of the art, formulate programmes of action and follow-up measures in addition to publishing the proceedings for wider dissemination.
This programme, was associated with the International Year of Physics in India, for which the overall coordinator was the Indian Physics Association. The declaration by the UN General Assembly of 2005 as the International Year of Physics follows the recognition by professional bodies, educators and governments that dwindling enrolments in physics threaten to erode the research base required to power the post-industrial economies of the 21st century. To redress the situation, sustained efforts are required to increase educational and economic opportunities by strengthening the research network and to enthuse young scholars as well as their guardians who play a key role in career choices.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIA PLANS
Reflecting Einstein's contributions in 1905 and his subsequent work, the general theory of relativity, Bose-Einstein statistics etc the following topics will be
highlighted:
A The fundamental constituents of matter
B Relativity and cosmology
C Bose-Einstein condensates
D Quantum theory and reality
It is expected that the programme will feature major events with the participation of some of the most distinguished international scientists. International symposia will be held in key metros (Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai), with the possibility of lectures, satellite symposia etc in nearby cities. The international symposia are planned for about 250 scientists, including 10-25 physicists of international renown. These events will be arranged to suit the convenience of the lead speakers, who are much in demand worldwide. The benefits of participation will be extended to a worldwide audience by subsequent telecasts and web postings of programmes of public interest. The format envisaged is to have the four symposia run consecutively over a period of a fortnight, in the four metros. A vital element in the programme is a lecture series entitled the Albert Einstein Annus Mirabilis Centennial Lectures delivered by scientists of the highest distinction, for an audience of students, lay persons and professionals. Summit meetings with a variety of stakeholders in government, industry and science and technology will provide occasions for formulating action plans in areas of interest.
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Prof. Sir Michael Atiyah, FRS (Fields Medallist)
Prof. Claude Cohen-Tannoudji (Nobel Laureate)
Prof. Alan Heeger (Nobel Laureate)
Prof. Gerard 't Hooft (Nobel Laureate)
Prof. Yuan-Tseh Lee (Nobel Laureate)
Prof. Ahmed Zewail (Nobel Laureate)
NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (as constituted in June 2004)
Dr. R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Chairman Scientific Advisory Committee to the Union Cabinet and Homi Bhabha Professor, BARC Mumbai co-Chairman
Prof. Partha Ghose, retd. Professor SNBNCBS Kolkata; Hon. Professor and Member, Board of Trustees, CPFS
NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (as constituted in June 2004)
Dr. R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Chairman Scientific Advisory Committee to the Union Cabinet and Homi Bhabha Professor, BARC Mumbai co-Chairman
Prof. Partha Ghose, retd. Professor SNBNCBS Kolkata; Hon. Professor and Member, Board of Trustees, CPFS
Dr. K. Kasturirangan, nominated M.P. (Rajya Sabha), former Director, National
Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, FRS, DG-CSIR, Secretary DSIR and President-Elect, Indian
National Science Academy
Prof. M.G.K. Menon, FRS, former Minister of State for Science and Technology, ISRO Vikram Sarabhai Professor
Dr. A.P. Mitra, FRS, Former DG-CSIR and Secretary DSIR, Honorary Scientist of
Eminence, National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi
Prof. Ranjit Nair, Director, Centre for Philosophy and Foundations of Science, New Delhi, Secretary
Prof. T.V. Ramakrishnan, FRS, Homi Bhabha Professor, Department of Physics, Benaras Hindu University
Prof. V.S. Ramamurthy, Secretary to Govt. of India, Department of Science and Technology
Prof C. N. R. Rao, FRS, Linus Pauling Research Professor and Hon. President, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister of India
Mr. Kapil Sibal, Hon'ble Minister of State for Science and Technology & Ocean
Development (independent charge) Chairman
Prof. Virendra Singh, former Director TIFR and C.V. Raman Research Professor, Indian National Science Academy
Dr. B.V. Sreekantan, former Director TIFR and Honorary Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, FRS, UNESCO Chair of Ecotechnology, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
Prof. E.C.G. Sudarshan, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, USA; President, Board of Advisers, CPFS, New Delhi
Prof. R.K. Varma, former Director, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, President, Board of Trustees, CPFS, New Delhi
Contact e-mail: wsf@cpfs.res.in