CHENNAI: Five Nobel laureates including Tamil Nadu-born Dr Venkataraman Ramakrishnan would participate in the 98th Indian Science Congress to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January 2011.
"For the Science Congress, five Nobel Laureates -- Dr Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, Dr Thomas A Steitz, Dr Ada E Yonath, Dr Martin Chalfie, Professor Tim Hunt have confirmed their participation," Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) General President K C Pandey told reporters on Monday.
The Prime Minister would deliver the keynote address at the event, he added.
About 50 eminent scientists from Japan, Europe and United Kingdom would participate in the four-day event which begins on January 3 at the SRM University, Kattankulathur, near here.
Stating that this was the first time that the Congress was being conducted in a 100 per cent private university, he said they were expecting around 7,000 delegates to take part.
"Our main aim is to promote science among the younger generation", he said adding 14 sessions covering almost all branches of science would be covered during the event, being held in Chennai after a gap of ten years.
SRM University Vice-Chancellor P Sathyanarayanan said a Science Congress for children would also be conducted during the event.
A 'Young Scientist Award' would be presented during the event, he said adding the process of selecting the recepient had already begun.
The focal theme of the Congress would be "Quality Education and Excellence in Scientific Research in Indian Universities", he said.
ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan, former ISRO Chairman and Planning Commission Member (Science) Dr Kasturi Rangan were also expected to take part in the event, he said.
Read more: Five Nobel laureates to attend Indian Science Congress - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Five-Nobel-laureates-to-attend-Indian-Science-Congress-/articleshow/6684640.cms#ixzz127oGMrZg
Prof.P. Sathyanarayanan