The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) is a prestigious scientific organization based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Founded in 1914, the association holds its annual meeting in the first week of January and boasts a membership of over 30,000 scientists. The inaugural Indian Science Congress took place at the Asiatic Society in Calcutta in 1914. In recent years, the congress has implemented a vetting process to ensure that speakers' presentations adhere to scientific rigor, following pseudoscientific speeches at the 2019 congress.
The Indian Science Congress attracts distinguished scientists from India and abroad, including Nobel laureates, who participate and deliver talks during the event. The genesis of the ISCA can be attributed to the vision of two British chemists, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. MacMahon. Recognizing the potential for advancing scientific research in India, they conceived the idea of an annual meeting of researchers modeled after the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
The objectives of the ISCA include promoting and advancing the cause of science in India, organizing an annual congress at a suitable location within the country, publishing proceedings and journals, managing funds for the promotion of science, and undertaking any other activities conducive to achieving these goals.
The first Indian Science Congress held in 1914 saw the participation of 105 scientists from India and abroad who presented 35 papers across six different sections: Botany, Chemistry, Ethnography, Geology, Physics, and Zoology. Over the years, the congress has grown in stature, and notable sessions include the Silver Jubilee Session in 1938, which was presided over by Lord Rutherford of Nelson, and the 34th Annual Session in 1947, with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as the General President. From 1947 onwards, Nehru's initiative to invite representatives from foreign scientific societies and academies became a regular practice, further enriching the congress and fostering international collaboration.
The Indian Science Congress continues to play a significant role in promoting scientific research, collaboration, and the dissemination of knowledge among scientists in India and abroad. It serves as a platform for scientific discourse, exchange of ideas, and the celebration of advancements in various fields of science.
See also: Photograph of Jawaharlal Nehru at the 1949 Indian Science ...
The Indian Science Congress attracts distinguished scientists from India and abroad, including Nobel laureates, who participate and deliver talks during the event. The genesis of the ISCA can be attributed to the vision of two British chemists, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P. S. MacMahon. Recognizing the potential for advancing scientific research in India, they conceived the idea of an annual meeting of researchers modeled after the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
The objectives of the ISCA include promoting and advancing the cause of science in India, organizing an annual congress at a suitable location within the country, publishing proceedings and journals, managing funds for the promotion of science, and undertaking any other activities conducive to achieving these goals.
The first Indian Science Congress held in 1914 saw the participation of 105 scientists from India and abroad who presented 35 papers across six different sections: Botany, Chemistry, Ethnography, Geology, Physics, and Zoology. Over the years, the congress has grown in stature, and notable sessions include the Silver Jubilee Session in 1938, which was presided over by Lord Rutherford of Nelson, and the 34th Annual Session in 1947, with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as the General President. From 1947 onwards, Nehru's initiative to invite representatives from foreign scientific societies and academies became a regular practice, further enriching the congress and fostering international collaboration.
The Indian Science Congress continues to play a significant role in promoting scientific research, collaboration, and the dissemination of knowledge among scientists in India and abroad. It serves as a platform for scientific discourse, exchange of ideas, and the celebration of advancements in various fields of science.
See also: Photograph of Jawaharlal Nehru at the 1949 Indian Science ...