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Karnataka State Council
for Science and Technology, IISc., Bangalore
and Vision Group on
Science and Technology,
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Karnataka
State Science and
Technology Conference - 2012
Theme : Role of Science and
Technology in Rural Development
Introduction
Records of economic development in the world during the
past century show how vastly improved products were created through the use
of Science and Technology and the scope of authority of science expanded
beyond the economic development. Recognizing the capacity of Science and
Technology to transform the quality of human life, the Government of India
attached higher priority to the field of science, since the early stages of
the planning process and the constitutional role of the state enabled India
to make experiments involving Science and Technology for development. The
emphasis given at the early stages in state's involvement of technology
transfer through rural development programme demonstrates states proactive
role in bringing about social and economic transformations.
The Indian Government has declared 2010-2020 as the
"Decade of Innovation". Although the gamut of innovation is vast and
government efforts will be directed towards stimulating reforms in various
sectors including education, environment, healthcare, and legal, there is an
underlying emphasis to boost advances in science and technology. The stress
on providing an impetus to science and technology is important, keeping in
mind the crucial role it plays in the progress of a nation. The main aim of
this declaration is to develop an innovation eco-system in the country to
stimulate innovations and to produce solutions for the societal needs in
terms of healthcare, energy, urban infrastructure, water and transportation.
The Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of
India is promoting
innovations through various schemes such as Technopreneur Promotion
Programme (TePP); technology business incubators under Science and
Technology entrepreneurship Development scheme; Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
Research; Innovation Clusters; Small Business Innovative Research Imitative
(SBIRI); Biotechnology Industrial Partnership Programme (BIPP); Open Source
Drug Discovery (OSDD) projects and grass root innovations through National
Innovation Foundation.
The Karnataka state has always been in the forefront of
scientific and technological developments, thanks to visionaries like Sir M.
Visvesvaraya and Sir C.V. Raman, who inspired science, technology and
industrial policies of the State during the first half of the 20th century.
Rural development generally refers to the process of
improving the quality of life and economic wellbeing of people living in
relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Rural development has
traditionally centered on the exploitation of land-intensive natural
resources such as agriculture and forestry. However, changes in global
production networks and increased urbanization have changed the character of
rural areas. Increasingly tourism, niche manufacturers, and recreation have
replaced resource extraction and agriculture as dominant economic drivers.
The need for rural communities to approach development from a wider
perspective has created more focus on a broad range of development goals
rather than merely creating incentive for agricultural or resource based
businesses. Education, entrepreneurship, physical infrastructure, and social
infrastructure all play an important role in developing rural regions. In
contrast to urban regions, which have many similarities, rural areas are
highly distinctive from one another. For this reason there is a large
variety of rural development approaches used globally.
With this background, Vision Group on Science and
Technology (VGST), constituted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST),
Government of Karnataka and Karnataka State Council for Science and
Technology (KSCST) are jointly organizing a two-day Third, Fourth and Fifth
State Level Conference on Science and Technology. These conferences will
focus on the issues pertaining to rural development, challenges and
opportunities in rural development and especially on role of science and
technology in rural development. The participants would be teachers, faculty
members of the universities, educationists, science promoters, scientists, policy makers, administrators
and officers from the Department of Rural Development and Panchayath Raj,
Government of Karnataka.
Objectives of the proposed conference
To develop better co-ordination, collaboration, joint
participation, relations and understanding amongst various constituents of
the rural sector for promoting welfare of the rural masses by eradicating
thirst, hunger, illiteracy, disease, poverty and by providing shelter and
employment.
To promote active involvement of general public,
Faculty, Students, NGOs and teachers for preparing plans for rural
development.
To undertake integrated programmes for the upliftment
and economic development of rural Karnataka and providing backward and
forward linkages to the rural economy by allowing them to access global
technology, funds & market.
To serve as a forum in association with professionals,
research scientists, social scientists, reformists, technocrats, and
agriculturists, to provide critical inputs on major issues, relevant to
development of rural people and to seek appropriate representation on the
various committees, bodies, delegations, teams etc. at the State level.
To undertake identification, development, adaptation
and promotion of appropriate technologies, organize or assist in transfer of
technology activities relating to rural development.
Activities
KSCST is planning to organize two-day
Third, Fourth and
Fifth State Level Conference during
July - December 2012 in Sri Jayachamrajendra
College of Engineering, Mysore, BLDE
University, Bijapur and PDA College of
Engineering, Gulbarga respectively.
The following issues related to the rural development
will be discussed during the conference.
Reduction in rural unemployment and develop S&T
initiatives for rural ecosystem.
Popularization of solar energy and other alternative
sources of energy to the rural masses.
Bringing innovation in agricultural practices.
Strengthening individual income by taking alternate
jobs to agriculture such as sericulture, horticulture, poultry etc.
Establishment of linkages between S&T in rural sector
and rural infrastructure.
Special support to women entrepreneur and empowerment.
Addressing health and hygiene issues of women and children.
Providing low cost materials to build environment
friendly houses in villages.
The scientists, engineers and industrialists
/ technocrats and administrators from various fields are participating as
experts in two day conference.
These conferences would be helping to address the issues of rural
development and other related issues.
In previous years, the Council, jointly with
these partners, had organized
First State Level Science and Technology
Conference on theme
"Science and Technology for Sustainable Development"
and
Second State Level Science and Technology Conference on the theme "Initiatives
for Human Resource Development in Science & Technology".
The Recommendations made during these conferences are
conveyed to the Government.
Click here for details of
"Third State Science and
Technology Conference - 2012 at Mysore"
Click here for details of
"State Science and
Technology Conference - 2011"
Click here for details of
"State Science and
Technology Conference - 2010"
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Chief Coordinator:
Prof. M. S. Mohan Kumar,
Secretary, KSCST,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore - 560 012
Tel: 2334 1652, Fax: 2334 8840
Email:
office@kscst.iisc.ernet.in |
Coordinator:
Dr. M. Prithviraj,
Executive Secretary, KSCST,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore - 560 012
Tel: 2334 1652, Fax: 2334 8840
Email: prithvi@kscst.iisc.ernet.in |
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Organising Secretary
Dr. S. G. Sreekanteswara Swamy,
Fellow, KSCST,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore - 560 012
Tel: 2334 1652, Fax: 2334 8840
Email: swamy@kscst.iisc.ernet.in
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Catalyzed and Supported by:
VISION GROUP ON SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY,
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA |
