The 5th edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 will be held at Kolkata from 5thto 8th November, 2019. The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced this at a curtain raiser Press Conference in New Delhi yesterday. IISF 2019 expects to host a gathering of approximately 12,000 participants from India and abroad. Biswa BanglaConventionCentreandScienceCityinKolkatawouldbetheprimesitesfortheeventsatIISF2019.

Addressing the Press Conference, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “IISF 2019will play a crucial role in promoting love and passion ofscienceamongstudentsby bringing science outside the lab. It is time to make science a Jan Andolan.”. The Science and Technology Minister further informed the gathering that the themeforthisyear’sfestivalisRISENIndia–Research,Innovation,andScienceEmpoweringtheNation.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harsh Vardhan emphasized on IISF encouragingyoungminds towards the field ofscienceand promotingnetworkingof stakeholders working towards the propagation of science.

Recalling the contributions of several eminent scientists, he further elaborated on Kolkata as being the choice of the venue this year as Kolkata's scientific institutions had been the work place of several of these scientists who gave shape to science in India.

The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma also emphasized on the importance of holding the festival, “IISF is the largest sciencefestivalin the world; Focus on youth to inspire and motivate them to learn realsciencein motion. Real science cannot be learned in classroom atmosphere. IISF provides an opportunity to learn science in action and motion,” stated Prof. Sharma. The Press Conference also witnessed the release of publication on IISF 2019.

The IISF 2019 is the fifth edition since its inception in 2015. The first and second IISF were held in New Delhi, the third in Chennai and the fourth IISF was held in Lucknow, which witnessed a Footfallfrom over 10 lakh people worldwide.

IndiaInternationalScienceFestival(IISF)2019 isanannualeventorganisedjointlybyscience&technology- related Ministries and Departments of the Government of India and Vijnana Bharati (Vibha), 2019. IISF is a festival to celebrate the achievements of India’s scientific and technological advancements with students, innovators, craftsmen, farmers, scientists and technocrats from India and abroad.

Multitude of significant events are lined up for IISF 2019, which will host more than 28 different events during this period. For school students, aStudents Science Villagewill be a major highlight. More than 2500 schoolstudentsfromalloverthenationhavebeen invited.TheStudents Science Village programme is linked with Pradhan Mantri Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, where in every Member of Parliament has been asked to nominate five students each along with their teacher from their constituency for the village.

It is for the first time, there will beatwo-dayScience and Technologymediaconclave,whichshallbeorganisedatthe Bose Institute’s new campus in Salt Lakearea. The International Science Film Festival of India (ISFFI) will be another highlight of the festival and will promote in recognizing the efforts of filmmakers and motivate them to develop scientific and innovative content.

The special role of Women Scientists and Entrepreneurs in shaping the scientific growth trajectory will be another highlight of this Festival. The programme(WomenScientists & Entrepreneurs Conclave) aspires to develop new entrepreneurship and explore new vistas of opportunities in the field ofscience andtechnologyamongwomen.Approximately700womenscientist/entrepreneurswillattendtheevent.

TheNorth-East Science Students’Meetwill bring hundreds of innovative, dedicated and award-winning students on a single platform to share their experiences and put forth new dimensions of science.

India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 is an annual event organised jointly by science & technology- related Ministries and Departments of the Government of India and Vijnana Bharati (Vibha), 2019