As a science teacher, on this day I remember my academic days in India when I used to celebrate National Science Day with great enthusiasm. I also remember my students who participated in various activities like science exhibitions and gave me some unforgettable memories.
This day is very important in the calendar of India as it honors all the scientists for their remarkable contributions to the cause of nation.
The government of India in 1986, at the initiative of the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology (DST), declared February 28 as the National Science Day.
The aim of this day is to popularise the benefits of scientific knowledge in our society. This day is significant as in the year 1928 on this day Sir CV Raman announced the discovery of the Raman Effect. For this, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1930. He was the first Asian to get any Nobel Prize in Science.
The Raman Effect led to the growth of a new discipline, Raman Spectroscopy, which has now become a powerful tool for a wide range of Scientific investigations and industrial applications.
This day also reminds us about great Indian Scientists like Jagdish Chandra Bose who pioneered the investigation of Radio and Microwave Optics, Vikram Sarabhai for launching of India’s first Satellite, Aryabhata, Dr Homi Bhabha who ushered India into the Atomic age and Prof. Raj Reddy who is one of the prominent Scientists in Computer Science in US and presently serving as the director of the West Coast Campus of Carnegie Mellon University, USA.
We should be thankful and express our gratitude to these great scientists and also other scientists for their dedication and contributions in the field of Science and Technology. We should also feel proud about the recently launched Chandrayaan 1, India’s first mission to the moon by the Indian Space Research Organization on October 22, 2008, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Scientific innovations have definitely contributed a lot towards the welfare of society. We are greatly inspired by such type of innovations and National Science Day plays an important role to attract young minds in the field of Science and Technology. Many students are motivated to pursue Science as a career on this day.
It also holds a special significance because of its focus on developing interest of school children in the field of Science.
In my opinion such type of events, which are related to Science and Technology, should be celebrated in every part of the world to attract young minds in this field.
By pursuing their career in scientific field the young generation can make this world a better place to live with happiness all around.