A delegation from Vigyan Prasar, led by Dr. Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar, set up by the Department of Science & Technology, visited Amity University. The delegation also comprised of Dr.TV. Venkateswaran, Scientist ‘F‘, Division Head: Science Communication Training, Vigyan Prasar, Shri Kapil Tripathi, Scientist F, Division Head: Science on Television, and Activity Kits, Vigyan Prasar and Shri Inderjit Singh, Registrar, Vigyan Prasar.
Vigyan Prasar (VP) is an autonomous organization under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. The principal objective of VP is to serve India’s science popularization agenda. Science popularization, therefore, serves as a robust knowledge led tool to fulfill its objectives. Vigyan Prasar is working on the mission announced by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh for removing 1,500 tonnes of garbage, mainly single use plastic from the seacoasts on "International Coastal Clean-up Day" on 17th September 2022, which incidentally is also birthday of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated as “Sewa Divas” in the country.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar, averred, “A new India is emerging with a large number of start-ups being launched. Entrepreneurship is leading the way for “Aatm Nirbhar Bharat” and new developments are taking place in the field of Science & Technology. Therefore, it is important to create an awareness about science and its contribution in various fields. For this purpose, Vigyan Prasar has also started a Science Channel three and a half years ago, through which, it aims to create awareness among the masses. Communication has undergone a huge transformation with the emergence of OTT Platforms which have a huge viewership in India currently. The need of the hour is to popularize science through communication and Amity already has a vast bank of resources which can be capitalized and channelised for spreading knowledge and awareness about science. Content is the king today and if it is presented in an interesting way, it can reach the masses effectively. Today, there a large number of science related business opportunities to be explored which can significantly contribute to the scientific and economic development of our country.”
Sharing his views on the occasion, Dr. Ashok Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, said, “Vigyan Prasar is doing a great service to the nation by propagating Science and Technology, which is the key focus area that will lead India to become a global superpower. Scientific Research must be promoted, and it is, therefore, essential to make sure that the work done in the field of research and innovation has a widespread reach. Indian brain is the best in the world and Indian Scientists are doing a remarkable work. Even in the area of Science & Technology, India will lead the world and play an integral role in changing the world. “
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. (Prof.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University, said, “The need of the hour is to create, communicate and commercialize the work done in the field of S&T by popularizing Science. The New Education Policy 2020 also lays stress on Science & Technology; therefore, institutions must align themselves with the same so that desired outcome can be achieved.”
Dr.TV. Venkateswaran, Senior Scientist, Vigyan Prasar, said, “A paradigm shift in the approach of education is required, and the emphasis should be on how to learn instead of how to teach. Science and Communications should be able to address the problems and challenges of the emerging world and the knowhow and expertise need to be developed to address these challenges. Practical projects should be carried out along with an emphasis on the creation of knowledge, to find innovative solutions to the existing problems.”
On this occasion, a Presentation was also made by Prof. (Col) R.K. Dargan, Director, Amity School of Communication (ASCO), where glimpses of short films and documentaries based on Science and other project work by the students of ASCO were highlighted.
The visit concluded with the felicitation of the esteemed guests and the delegation also visited Amity School of Communication and various other facilities including the Central Library and Science Laboratories at Amity.