the goan I network
PANAJI
Initiating a new era of Science and Technology in the State, the chief minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the Nobel Prize Series India 2018 at Kala Academy on Thursday. The event began with an invocation song.
In his welcome speech Prof K Vijayraghavan, secretary Department of Biotechnology, India expressed pleasure that Goa is hosting this great festival of science as it is a wonderful place to influence the whole world. “It is such a place because in today’s times when the sustainable development is very important for the safety and the future of the planet where science and technology needs to work intertwining with society to make changes. A place like Goa which is beautiful, which has intellectual depth, which has several leading scientific institutions, can be the best place for the congregation of scientific temperament. It is a place where the best from all over the world come and if ideas incubated in this beautiful environment can be instrumental in changing the ways in which our industry, economy, agriculture, energy systems and the basic science lab works.”
Chairman of Nobel Foundation Prof Carl Henrik Heldin who is visiting the Nobel Prize Series for the first time and that too in India and Goa, welcomed the distinguished audience on behalf of the Nobel Foundation. Pointing to the theme of the Nobel Prize Series he said, “As a scientist myself I have always strongly believed in this theme and attitude, but now it is even more important than ever to empower this concept as we see what is happening around the world.” Admiring the progress that India is achieving, Prof Carl expressed his strong support to India to achieve success.
Reading the famous poem of the first Nobel Laureate in India, Ravindranath Tagore who received it in 1930, the CEO of Nobel Foundation, Olav Emeline stated, “The words of Ravindranath Tagore wonderfully express the message we want to convey to you in Goa - Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free, where the world has not been broken by narrow domestic walls. into that heaven of freedom, Father, let my country awake.” He mentioned that it was Tagore who won the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in 1930s and since then Indian scientists, writers and peace workers have been awarded the prize and I am sure that there would be more Indians to receive it in the future.
Prof Christiane Nüsslein Volhard spoke on behalf of the Nobel Laureates. It is not the discoveries but understanding the complicated issues too. Prof Christiane who is studying the colours and patterns in fish is hopeful of finding new things in her research.
Beginning his speech with a Sanskrit Shloka, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said, “It is science which takes us from darkness to light and ignorance to knowledge and from death to eternity. Though Goa is a small state, it is an important biodiversity hot spot on the map of India. We have produced eminent scientists like Raghunath Mashelkar, D D Kossambe and Anil Kakodkar. Our government is working on strengthening Goa’s status as a strong scientific hub of India. We would like to continue our engagement with the Nobel Laureates.” The chief minister announced the initiation of two new educational hubs to make the state a knowledge powerhouse. Goa would be the home to the next Nobel Laureates, he hoped. Secretary, Science and Technology, Daulat Hawalkar proposed the vote of thanks.
