Organisers
Centre for Innovation in Science & Social Action (CISSA)
Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) is a multi-disciplinary organization endowed with a think tank comprising of scientists and professionals from all walks of life, who provides foresighted guidance and orientation for its diverse feats bridging science with the society. Biodiversity conservation, energy management, organic farming and good food movement are among the many such activities. Currently CISSA is headquarters of Regional Centre for Expertise (RCE), Thiruvananthapuram acknowledged by UN University. Among its recent highlights, is 3rd Global Ayurveda Festival inaugurated by Hon’ble. Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi at Kozhikode in Kerala during February 2016 attended by more than 4000 delegates from 42 countries. (http://www.cissa.co.in/)
Pondicherry University
Pondicherry University since its inception in 1985, continues to be a leading University situated in the southern part of the country and focused on both quality teaching and innovative research of high standards in a wide range of disciplines. A part from doing research in frontier areas of their field of specializations, the faculty members of the University take special efforts to impart academic training on par with premier academic institutions of the country at UG, PG and Ph.D levels. The faculty of the University are academicians of National and International repute. The Pondicherry University is the first University in the country to start a Community College to cater to the needs and demands of the local community to enhance skill development and their employability. It has been successfully conducting paperless online based entrance examination at different Centres all over the country since the academic year 2014-15. University will continue with this efficient Online mode of entrance examination for the coming academic years as well on par with MHRD / UGC directive. Innovative facilities like Online Video Conferencing (A-View) are being used to facilitate quick interaction with Principals of the affiliated colleges from length and breadth of Puducherry Regions, including even remote Andaman & Nicobar Islands. (http://www.pondiuni.edu.in/)
DSTE, Government of Puducherry
The Department of Science, Technology and Environment was started in 1993 after merging of the erstwhile Science & Technology and Environment cells functioning in the U.T. Administration. The DSTE is the nodal agency for planning, promotion, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of environmental policies, technology and programmes. The Department designs and implements policies and programmes to preserve, conserve and protection of Environment. The primary concerns of the department are implementation of policies and programmes relating to conservation of the natural resources, biodiversity and environment, and the prevention and abatement of pollution. While implementing these policies and programmes, the department is guiding for sustainable development and enhancement of human well-being.( http://dste.puducherry.gov.in/)
Navdanya
Navdanya started by world-renowned scientist, author and environmentalist Dr.Vandana Shiva is an organisation committed to the conservation of agricultural biodiversity with the participation of indigenous communities. Since 1987, the Navdanya programme has been saving seeds, promoting organic farming methods, raising awareness on the hazards of bio-safety, genetic engineering and bio-piracy, thereby defending people’s traditional food rights and food sovereignty in the face of globalization. Navdanya’s focus on collective, cumulative innovation embodies in indigenous knowledge has created a worldwide movement for the defence of the intellectuals rights of communities. (http://www.navdanya.org/)
Pondicherry Science Forum
Pondicherry Science Forum (PSF), was founded in 1985 by a number of professionals, teachers and other interested persons from many walks of life with the primary objective of Science Popularization. It has since evolved into a Peoples’ Science Movement with a clear mandate of shaping Science & Technology and ensuring its utilization to benefit the weaker sections of society. The PSF contributes to this goal by questioning power relationships embedded in science and technology and in the institutional structures that generate and put to use such knowledge. The PSF also contributes to this goal by contributing to the processes of building empowered and democratized institutional structures that help people to participate and make informed choices regarding the development and use of science and technology.
The PSF’s work is organized into three wings – Development, Science Communication and Women’s Empowerment and to carry these tasks out effectively it has build two more institutional structures – the Centre for Ecology & Rural Development (CERD) and the Samam Makalir SuyasarbuIyakkam (Samam), both have considerable autonomy in their governance and in their functioning. (http://psfcerd.org/blog/)
