Women Science Congress begins

West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Sunday inaugurated the 7th Women Science Congress (WSC) here alongside the ongoing 105th Indian Science Congress (ISC), which is being held at the Manipur University campus at Canchipur.

Former general president of Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) Ashok Saxena, vicechancellor of Manipur University AP Pandey, former general secretary of ISCA Vijay Laxmi Saxena, ISCA general secretaries Gangadhar and PP Mathur, and Namita Gupta of the Union ministry of science and technology also attended the inaugural function. Speaking on the occasion, Tripathi said, “Women, if given the opportunity and support, may excel in any field. In this light, the 7th Women Science Congress should be able to pave the way for our women. The only challenge is that their number remains underrepresented.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, Saxena said, “This forum should identify and prepare a document of women in science and science for women with profiles of famous women scientists.”

Around 1,300 top women scientists of the country will share the work and challenges in terms of career growth in science and technology till the end of the WSC, which will be held for two days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday here inaugurated the ISC, the largest gathering of Indian scientists. The theme for the event is ‘Reaching the Unreached Through Science and Technology’.

The WSC was held for the first time in Odisha’s state capital of Bhubaneswar in 2012, with the slogan ‘Reaching the Unreached’.

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