Opportune pause - Indian Science Congress (ISC)

Context: The Indian Science Congress (ISC) 109th edition, originally to be held in  Lucknow University in 2024, has been cast in doubt after the University pulled out citing an  ongoing dispute between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the ISC Association. 

News:

• The Indian Science Congress (ISC) is an annual event for scientific discussions, with PM inaugurations and Nobel Laureate participation.
• However, recent years saw its reputation damaged as it provided a platform for pseudoscientific claims, aligning with hyper-nationalist narratives.
• ISC's 109th edition, initially set for Lucknow University in 2024, faces uncertainty as the university withdraws due to a dispute between the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the ISC Association, which organizes the event.
• The association selects Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar as an alternative, leading to DST's criticism, including allegations of "financial irregularities."
• Lovely Professional University withdraws from hosting ISC 109th edition, and the ISC Association takes legal action against the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for alleged government interference. The association seeks alternative hosts and forms a committee for venue selection. This pause in the activities put a question mark on ISC's relevance.

Indian Science Congress (ISC)

• The Indian Science Congress (ISC) is an annual event that serves as a gathering for the country's scientific community to present and discuss research, fostering communication in the scientific field.
• The event carries prestige, typically being inaugurated by the Prime Minister and sometimes featuring Nobel Laureates.
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) plays a crucial role by providing significant funding, and the ISC Association, an autonomous body under the DST, is responsible for organizing the congress.
• In recent years, the ISC's reputation has suffered due to its association with pseudoscientific claims made by certain members of the scientific community, raising concerns about the credibility of the event.
• The ISC itself has inherent flaws, including questionable speaker selections, a disjointed agenda, and a hectic schedule that hinders meaningful engagement.
• Despite its drawbacks, the ISC holds significance as it attracts thousands of school and college students each year and includes talks by researchers, contributing to learning and awareness in the scientific community.

India International Science Festival

It  has been organized by the Indian government since 2015. This event is a collaborative effort involving the Ministries of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, the Departments of Space and Atomic Energy, and Vijnana Bharati.

While some criticize post-2014 events, ISC also serves as a platform for student participation, researcher talks, and educational contributions.The Indian Science Congress (ISC) is flawed, featuring disjointed agendas and a hectic schedule. The government supports the India International Science Festival as an alternative. A critical evaluation is needed for ISC to become an independent, frequent, and coherent event reflecting the contributions of the national scientific community, with political and Nobel Laureate presence considered ornamental.