(a) whether a five day science festival was held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi and over 240 projects were showcased therein; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the response received and the steps being taken to organise such expos in some other cities also?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY)
(a) Yes, Madam. The India International Science Festival (IISF-2015) was organized at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi during December 04-08, 2015. Various events organized during the IISF 2015 were:
(i) Young Scientists’ Conference
(ii) Industry Academia Conclave
(iii) National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) under ‘INSPIRE’ Programme of DST
(iv) Science Film Festival
(v) Largest Practical Science Laboratory Demonstration
(vi) Techno-Industry Expo
(b) The 5th NLEPC under the INSPIRE Award Scheme was organized by the Department of Science & Technology at IIT-Delhi during December 6-7, 2015 along with India International Science Festival. 699 selected INSPIRE awardees from all over the country participated and showcased their projects / models during the event. These INSPIRE awardees were from amongst the 15000 awardees who had participated in the State-Level Competitions organized by various States/UTs after the District-Level Competitions in which about 2 lakh awardees had participated. The 699 projects were evaluated by a high-level jury and the best 60 projects were chosen. The top 3 projects were given National Awards and the remaining 57 were given Appreciation Awards.
The overall response to IISF-2015 was positive and encouraging.
The Techno-Industry Expo was organized in self-financing mode by Vijnana Bharati, a non-governmental body engaged in science outreach activities. This was a concept thought of by them. No decision has been taken to organize such expos in other cities.
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