Spend 100 hrs with 100 students every year: PM

Stressing on opening the gates of national institutions and laboratories to school-going children, the PM said, "I call upon scientists to develop an appropriate mechanism for interaction with school-going children and urge them, to spend 100 hours every year, with 100 students of classes 10, 11 and 12 discussing various aspects of science and technology."

"This would help in nurturing a huge number of scientists in the country," the Prime Minister said while addressing the inaugural session of the 105th Indian Science Congress which was held in Manipur University on Friday.

Stating that science has a significant role in progress and prosperity of the country, the PM urged scientists to extend their research from "labs to the land" for the greater benefit of the people and said that time was ripe to redefine 'R&D' as research for the development of the nation.

Modi also stressed on developing a holistic approach to making the best use of scientific research in turning around the social-economic condition of the nation during his over 30-minute speech.

Recalling the role of Stephen Hawking, who died a few days back, in the world of science, the Prime Minister said, "Let us also join the world to mourn the death of one of greatest physicists of our time, Stephen Hawking, who was one of the brightest stars of modern cosmology."

The PM further added that the country has to be "future ready" in implementing technologies vital for the growth and prosperity of the nation.

Modi also urged scientists to take up the challenge of developing new procedures, medicines, and vaccines to eradicate malaria and Japanese Encephalitis. More reports inside