Swadeshi Science Congress

Swadeshi Science Congress

SSC

Since its inception in 1991, Swadeshi Science Congress (SSC) has served as a platform for students, research scholars, scientists, technocrats, enthusiastic science communicators and the public to express, discuss and disseminate their scientific knowledge in the pursuit of science. Every year SSC identifies a theme of great relevance like science and philosophy, traditional science and technology, agriculture and rural development, information technology, coastal zone management, biotechnology and society, nanotechnology and social development, ecosystem services and the like for the Congress. The 29th SSC was held at ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod. 30th Swadeshi Science Congress is being organized at National Institute of Technology, Calicut with the focal theme, “Holistic Approach for a Sustainable Lifestyle – Perspectives from Indian Knowledge System”. The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) is a methodical transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next. It is a well-structured system and process of knowledge transfer, rather than just a tradition. The Vedic literature – Upanishads, Vedas, and Upvedas are all part of the Indian Knowledge System. It is now recognized that western criteria are not the sole benchmark by which other cultural knowledge should be evaluated. While the term ‘traditional’ sometimes carries the connotation of ‘pre-modern’ in the sense of ‘primitive’ or ‘out-dated’, many of the traditional sciences and technologies were in fact quite advanced even by western standards as well as better adapted to unique local conditions and needs than their later ‘modern’ substitutes. India has amongst the best cases for successful revival of Traditional Knowledge System. It has a rich heritage still intact in this area. It has the largest documented ancient literature relevant to TKS. It has the intellectual resources to appreciate this and to implement this revival, provided the Macaulayite mental blocks could be shaken up through re-education of its governing elite. It has dire needs to diversify beyond dependence solely upon the new panacea of globalization and westernization. India’s scientific heritage, besides its philosophical and cultural legacy, needs to be properly understood. The aim is not inspired by chauvinism, but to understand the genius of Indian civilization better. This would overhaul the current assessment of India’s potential.There will be also a special session on ‘National Education Policy - 2020: Perspectives and Implementation”. The venue of the Congress is National Institute of Technology, NIT Campus, Kozhikode, Kerala - 673 601. The nearest railway station is Kozhikode which is 23 km away from the Institute. Nearest airport is Calicut Airport in Malappuram district which is 32 km away. This year we introduce Dr. A.R.R. Menon Memorial Award for Best Paper in Forestry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Menon who left this world on 22 September, 2022 completed his Ph.D. in Botany (Forest Ecology) from Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat in 1979. He retired from active service as Scientist F, GIS and Remote Sensing Department, Forest Information Management System (FIMS), Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur. His major activities included geographical mapping of soil-cum-vegetation of forests of Thrissur Division, evergreen forests of Kerala, species relation studies in moist deciduous forests, insect-pest incidence in natural forests, vegetation mapping and analysis of Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary using Remote Sensing techniques, evaluation of the population regeneration and invasion status of selected three endemics in the Shola forests of Kerala etc.