Host’s last minute withdrawal leaves historic Science Congress in the lurch

Subject :Science and Tech

Section: Msc

Context:

A month after announcing that it would host the 109th edition of the Indian Science Congress, the Jalandhar based Lovely Professional University (LPU) has backed out.

What is the India Science Congress?

With a history dating back to 1914, the Science Congress is a one-of-its-kind event in the country.
It brings together scientists and researchers not just from the premier institutions and laboratories but also science teachers and professors from colleges and universities.
It offers a platform for their interaction with students and the general public on matters related to science.
It is a celebration of Indian science that has had an illustrious past, with the who’s who of Indian science participating and organizing.
The first session of the Indian Science Congress was held in 1914.

Organiser:

It is organized by Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
ISCA is an independent body functioning with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in the central government.

Decline of Science Congress:

In more recent times, the event has attracted attention for all the wrong reasons:
Lack of serious discussion, the promotion of pseudoscience, outlandish claims by random speakers, and the absence of useful outcomes.
As a result, several top scientists have advocated the discontinuation of the event, or at least withdrawal of government support.
For organising the Science Congress, the government provides an annual grant.
Besides this, the government has no role to play in organising the ISC.

Host’s last­ minute withdrawal leaves historic Science Congress in the lurch