National Science Day Competitions Winners

National Science Day Celebration

  

National Science Day is celebrated in India on 28 of February each year to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. For his discovery, Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. National science day is celebrated as one of the main science festivals in India every year during which students of the schools and colleges demonstrates various science projects as well as national and state science institutions demonstrates their latest researches. The celebration also includes public speech, radio-TV talk shows, exhibitions of science movie, science exhibition based on themes and concepts, debates, quiz competitions, lectures, science models exhibitions and many more activities. Variety of programs is also held for the common public and student community to popularize the science and technology in the country. The Minister of Science and Technology gives a message through his speech at this day to the students, scientists, researchers and general public of the nation.

Objectives of Celebrating National Science Day:

• To widely spread a message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people.
• To display all the activities, efforts and achievements in the field of science for human welfare.
• To discuss all the issues and implement new technologies for the development of the science.
• To give an opportunity to the scientific minded citizens in the country.
• To encourage the people as well as popularize the Science and Technology.

Themes of National Science Day:

• The theme of the year 1999 was Our Changing Earth.
• The theme of the year 2000 was Recreating Interest in Basic Science.
• The theme of the year 2001 was Information Technology for Science Education.
• The theme of the year 2002 was Wealth from Waste.
• The theme of the year 2003 was 50 years of DNA & 25 years of IVF � The blue print of Life.
• The theme of the year 2004 was Encouraging Scientific Awareness in Community.
• The theme of the year 2005 was Celebrating Physics.
• The theme of the year 2006 was Nurture Nature for our future.
• The theme of the year 2007 was More Crop Per Drop.
• The theme of the year 2008 was Understanding the Planet Earth.
• The theme of the year 2009 was Expanding Horizons of Science.
• The Theme of the year 2010 was Gender Equity, Science & Technology for Sustainable Development.
• The theme of the year 2011 was Chemistry in Daily Life.
• The theme of the year 2012 was Clean Energy Options and Nuclear Safety.
• The theme of the year 2013 was Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security.
• Theme of the year 2014 would be Fostering Scientific Temper.
• The National Science Day 2015 is Science for Nation Building.

 

National Science Day - Competitions

It is informed to all the students that on the occasion of “National Science Day” (28^th February), Department of Library and Information Science is going to conduct the following competitions on 27^th February, 2016.

Interested students can enroll their names at Central Library in Cotton Bhavan or First Year Library in Bill Gates Bhavan. Prizes and Certificates will be awarded to the winners.

1.      Poster Presentation:

Theme: Science and Technology for Rural India: My Vision

2.      Elocution:

Theme: Sustainable Technologies for Environment Conservation

Scientist of the day - Kitaw Ejigu

Kitaw Ejigu

Kitaw Ejigu was an Ethiopian American engineer and political leader; he was one of Ethiopia’s first aerospace scientists. With the completion of his studies in the late 1970s, he was drawn towards aerospace technology and started working for NASA as a system engineer and space research scientist. He invented two aerospace mechanisms which were patented under NASA’s new technology. He collaborated with other scientists to create space shuttles and rockets that assisted in planetary science research and exploration of planet earth. Among his greatest achievements while working on space technology were his innovative creations of the Global Positioning System (GPS), and a revolutionary and dynamic flight simulator for the Boeing Company. Apart from his work as an aerospace scientist, he was also known for his efforts to bring about political change in Ethiopia. Because of his deep concern and love for his motherland and its people, he dedicated most of his later years serving as a visionary leader. He established the major opposition party, The Ethiopian National United Front, and worked towards the liberation of people in his homeland. He earned the respect of millions of followers due to his visionary leadership and personal accomplishments. 

Childhood & Early Life

• He was born on February 25, 1948, in Bonga, Keffa, Ethiopia, and received his early education from the Miazia 27th High School in Jimma province.
• He attended the ‘Bahr Dar Polytechnic Institute’ and received his diploma in 1966 in mechanical engineering with specialization in agricultural technology. After graduation, he worked at the ‘Ethiopian Automotive Services and Sales Company (EASSCO)’ as Chief Technical Advisor and Assistant Manager for two years.
• In 1972, he won a scholarship from the Japanese Overseas Technical Association on the basis of which he studied automotive engineering at Hiroshima University, and language and Japanese economics at Osaka University.
• Later, he moved to the United States and began his intensive research and training and earned an MS/MBA in business administration in 1979. Then he completed his doctorate in space vehicle systems engineering from Northrop University in California.

Major Works

In 1978, while working with other NASA scientists and the Apollo astronaut Buz Aldrin, he invented two aerospace mechanisms which were patented under NASA's new technologies programs. 

Personal Life & Legacy

• He married Stella Ejigu, who also became one of his ardent supporters. They have three children, Sarah Abigail, Benyam and Yared.
• On January 7, 2006, he was enjoying with his family in Austin, when he fell and hurt himself. The team of neurosurgeons was unable to stop the internal brain hemorrhage and his condition deteriorated.
• He died an hour past midnight on January 13, 2006, four days after he underwent surgery at North Austin Medical Center in Austin Texas. A memorial service was held at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California, followed by his burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Covina Hills.

Central Excise Day 2016

 

Central Excise Day in India

Central Excise Day is commemorated every year all across the India on 24^th of February to encourage the employees of excise department to carry out the central excise duty all over the India in better way in order to prevent the corruption in goods manufacturing business as well as implement other rules to carry out best possible excise services.

Central excise has become the vital source of the financial development of the country for the better socio-economic development in India. In the back years, the financial revenue of the country has become double through the better service delivery standards of the central excise departments.

The revenue collection through the central excise department is used in the following schemes such as education, health including other schemes of the social sector. Central excise supports a lot to improve the Indian economy for eliminating the poverty and illiteracy, offering better education and health services and etc to make the country a healthy and developed country.

Why Central Excise Day is Celebrated

A day, 24^th of February, has been decided by the government of India to celebrate this special event all through the country. The event celebration means to collect tax over the goods and by the people earning over the limit which has been decided according to the terms of Central Excise Act in the year 1944. The tax payable rate has been set under Schedule I and II according to the Central Excise Tariff Act in the year 1985.

According to the Central Excise law, the payable event is mainly over the manufactured goods, which has been managed by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) through various field offices (means Central Excise Commissionerates) all over the country. Central Board of Excise and Customs fall under the Department of Revenue managed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

The department of Central Board of Excise and Customs has been established in order to make and implement policies related to the tax payable and its collection by the people all through the country. To do this in better way, Customs and Central Excise duties has been implemented to prevent negative business ways means smuggling as well as to manage all the issues related to the central excise, customs and narcotics in India to a great level. To handle and manage all the matters in the country, whole India has been divided in 10 zones and each of the zones is headed by the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise. Almost 61 Commissionerates is headed by the Commissioner of Central Excise in all the Zones.

Following two types of the processes are carried out by the Central Excise department in order to put into effect all the laws and collections of the central excise:

Physical Control Process

Physical control process has been implemented in order to manage the central excise duty for cigarettes only. Through this process, first of all an evaluation is done under the custody of Central Excise officers for the approval purpose.

Self Removal Process

Self removal process has been implemented in order to manage the central excise duty for all other goods getting manufactured all through the India. In this process, all the legal responsibilities on the goods are self accessed by the manufacturers in order to clear the goods.

Importance of Celebrating the Central Excise Day

Central excise day in India is celebrated every year on 24^th of February to encourage the equality among the officers of the Central Board of Excise and Customs Department as well as assist them to ensure better tax observance. It is also celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the Central Excise and Salt Act on 24^th of February in the year 1944.

Scientist of the day - Agnes Arber

Agnes Arber

Agnes Arber was one of the most renowned botanists belonging to the 18th century. Her father was an artist and from him she gained the art of illustration which later on helped her in demonstrating the botanical works which she was involved in. She inculcated an interest in the subject of botany when she was in school and her scores were evident of her passion for the subject. She worked diligently and gained knowledge about the subject and even gained scholarship which helped her continue further studies in botany. Her encounter with the renowned botanist Ethel Sargent proved beneficial and Sargent provided her with the guidance which was required to enhance the qualities of Agnes as a botanist. She worked with Sargent in her laboratory which provided Arber with immense practical knowledge. She went to become an eminent botanist who did significant research work, which formed the base of many future developments in plant science. She focussed more on plant anatomy and morphology and even established a difference between pure morphology and applied morphology. Her work on floral structure has been an important development in the world of science. She has also made many contributions to the botanical science by her research work, revolving around monocotyledons 

Childhood & Early Life

• Agnes was born to Henry Robertson and Agnes Lucy Turner on 23rd February, 1879, in London. She was the eldest of four children and her siblings were named Donald Struan Robertson, Margaret Robertson and Janet Robertson.
• She received education from ‘North London Collegiate School’, where she cultivated an interest for the subject of botany. Her first research work was published in her school magazine, in 1894.
• Following this she topped the botany paper in her class and earned a scholarship. During her school days she met plant morphologist Ethel Sargent, who later went on to become her guide in botany.
• She enrolled at the ‘University College’, London in 1897 and two years later, she completed B.Sc. Later, she joined the ‘Newnham College’ and earned a degree in Natural Sciences in 1902. She excelled as a student earning many awards and accolades.

  Major Works

  In 1950, she penned the book entitled ‘The Natural Philosophy of Plant Form’ became one of the most renowned works of this remarkable plant morphologist. The book focusses on the transition from research to the establishment of a philosophy. In this book she introduces the ‘partial-shoot theory of the leaf’. The theory says that each component of a plant is either a shoot or a partial-shoot.

  Awards & Achievements

  • In 1946, she was the ‘Fellow of the Royal Society’, and she was the first women botanist to be bestowed with this honour.
  • The ‘Linnean Society of London’ honoured this learned researcher with the ‘Gold Medal.

    Personal Life & Legacy

    • In 1909, she married Edward Alexander Newall Arber, who was a paleobotanist and the couple was blessed with a child named Muriel Agnes Arber.
    • The family shifted to Cambridge and Agnes stayed there until her death on 22 March, 1960.

   

 

World Day of Social Justice

2016 Theme: A Just Transition - environmentally sustainable economies and societies

 

The United Nations' (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed on February 20 to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication. It also focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration.  

What Do People Do?

Many organizations, including the UN and the International Labour Office, make statements on the importance of social justice for people. Many organizations also present plans for greater social justice by tackling poverty, social and economic exclusion and unemployment. Trade unions and campaign groups are invited to call on their members and supporters to mark the day. The Russian General Confederation of Trade Unions declared that the common slogan would be "Social Justice and Decent Life for All!".

Schools, colleges and universities may prepare special activities for the day or plan a week of events around a theme related to poverty, social and economic exclusion or unemployment. Different media, including radio and television stations, newspapers and Internet sites, may give attention to the issues around the World Day of Social Justice.

It is hoped that particular coverage is given to the links between the illicit trade in diamonds and armed conflicts, particularly in Africa, and the importance of the International Criminal Court. This is an independent court that conducts trials of people accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Background

The World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1995 and resulted in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. At this summit, more than 100 political leaders pledged to make the conquest of poverty and full employment, as well as stable, safe and just societies, their overriding objectives. They also agreed on the need to put people at the center of development plans.

Nearly 10 years later, the UN's member states reviewed the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action when they gathered at a session of the Commission for Social Development in New York in February 2005. They also agreed to commit to advance social development. On November 26, 2007, the UN General Assembly named February 20 as the annual World Day of Social Justice. The day was scheduled to be first observed in 2009.