Indian Express(28-06-2006)

Month-long science festival from July 1


Bangalore, June 27: A galaxy of eminent scientists and professionals will participate in the month-long science festival which will commence from July 1 at the National College, Basavanagudi. The event is being organised by the Bangalore Science Forum, founded by late Dr H Narasimhaiah, and is entering its 29th year.

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium honorary director Dr C V Vishveshwara will kickstart the annual event with a talk on 'Gravitation: Story without an end.' The other speakers include first Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma, IISc director Dr P Balaram, eminent cardiologist Dr Deviprasad Shetty, IISc professors Dr S Chandrashekar, Dr N Balakrishnan, Dr S V Subramahyam, Dr Y Narahari and Dr K B Akilesh, BU VC Dr H A Ranganath and ex-VC Prof M S Thimmappa, Louisiana State University professor Dr Sitharama Iyengar, scientists Prof U R Rao and Prof R Narasimha, ISRO Satellite Centre director Dr K N Shankara, NAL director Dr A R Upadhya, CABS director K Tamil Mani, and health experts Dr Puthuraya and Dr M Maiya. Film shows on science subjects will be held on four Sundays.

Briefing about the festival, Science Forum president Dr A H Rama Rao told this newspaper that the talk by Dr Devi Shetty on `Changing Trends in Healthcare Delivery Systems' will be through a video-conference, something the lay public have only heard of, and here is an opportunity for them to participate and experience it themselves, he said.

The Forum, founded in 1962 by Dr HN, has had Nobel laureates including Sir C V Raman address students, besides many Fellows of the Royal Society. Since inception, the Forum has organised over 2000 lectures to popularise science among students and has won two major recognitions, Dr Rama Rao said.

The talk is held everyday at 6 p. m. at Dr HN Hall.