CSIR-NIScPR Inaugurates Main Gate at Pusa Campus, Marks Milestone in Science Communication

New Delhi: The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) reached a significant milestone with the inauguration of its Main Gate at its Pusa Campus on March 21st, 2024. Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR, presided over the ceremony.

In her welcome address, Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director of CSIR-NIScPR, expressed pride in the institute’s recent initiatives. She highlighted the establishment of the Science Media Communication Cell (SMCC), which has played a pivotal role in disseminating R&D breakthroughs across Indian labs. Prof. Aggarwal also mentioned the National Knowledge Resource Consortium and SVASTIK as promising initiatives aimed at advancing science communication and evidence-based STI policy research.

Dr. Kalaiselvi emphasized the institute’s achievements, stating, “CSIR-NIScPR is fostering connectivity among all labs, spearheading the efforts of its Science Media Communication Cell. As a testament to its success, S&T column will now be prominently featured in the ‘Employment News,’ marking a significant milestone in disseminating science towards public especially youth.”

Furthermore, Dr. Kalaiselvi highlighted the institute’s commitment to developing innovative software solutions and transformative tools to facilitate efficient communication and collaboration across scientific domains.

Following the inauguration, Dr. Kalaiselvi chaired the Monitoring Committee Meeting for SVASTIK, a program aimed at communicating India’s scientifically validated traditional knowledge to society. Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal welcomed the experts and provided an overview of SVASTIK activities. Eminent experts from various fields attended the meeting, including Dr. A. Raghu, Dr. Subhasis Chaudhari, Dr. Anita Aggarwal, and Dr. Anil Kumar.

Dr. Charu Lata, Coordinator of SVASTIK, presented updates on SVASTIK activities and its digital footprint. During the meeting, the second volume of the book SVASTIK Stories: Indian Traditional Knowledge through the Lens of Science, and a special issue of the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge on Communication & Dissemination of Traditional Knowledge were released.