The 82nd foundation day of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), was celebrated today at CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu. CSIR is the largest R&D organization in India having a pan-India presence with a network of 37 national laboratories, across the country. Padam Shri Professor Vinod K. Singh, Rahul and Namita Gautam Chair Professor, IIT Kanpur, a distinguished luminary of Indian Science was the Chief Guest on the occasion and delivered CSIR Foundation lecture, “Towards Excellence in Science & Technology”.

While addressing the audience, he lucidly dealt with the various opportunities, challenges and the way forward to achieve the quality and excellence in science and technology.Complimenting the work of CSIR through the last more than eight decades in various domains & specialties, Prof. Singh underscored the importance of good governance and the role of management, heads of institutions, and young professionals.On this occasion, the chief guest also presented the mementos and “Samman Patra” to ex-employees who superannuated during the last one year and who completed 25 years of service in CSIR.The retired employees who were presented the mementos and Samman Patra were Vikram Abrol, Angrez Chand, Rajinder Kumar, Saudagar Lal, Kuldeep Singh, Umid Singh Thapa, Ram Lal, Sodagar Lal, Tara Chand, Bhushan Lal, Sat Paul and Girdhari Lal. Vinod Meena on completion of 25 years of regular service was also honoured during the event.

Earlier, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR- IIIM, presented welcome address and introduced Prof Vinod K Singh to the audience as Scientist of international repute who is one among the Indian Science Policy makers, recipient of Padma Shri, TWAS, Italy-CASAREP Award for Building Scientific Institutions, Samman Patra by UP Government, Distinguished Alumnus Award, BHU, Vigyan Ratna Award of UP, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and Swaranjayanti Fellowship. He is a fellow of all Science Academies of India (FNA, FASc, FNASc).Giving the detail of the day-long programme conducted as part of CSIR Foundation day celebrations, Director, CSIR-IIIM informed that an exhibition cum poster presentation session for scholars and startup was organized besides competition of Artificial Intelligence Model Preparation under Jigyasa by various school children.The event was also marked as an open day to all the school and college students. More than 500 students from various schools i.e. K V Sunjawan, KV-1 Jammu, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bhartiya Vidhya Mandir, Army Public School, Jammu Cant. Army Public School, Akhnoor, and others visited the institute.

Further around 350 students from colleges associated with Cluster University Jammu, Jammu University, and SMVD University, Katra visited the exhibitions and different labs of the institute. The students also interacted with scientists and got to know about research methodologies.

Among many others, Dr. G.D. Singh, Ex-Chief Scientist, Asha Chaubey, Dhiraj Vyas, Sumit Gandhi, Qazi Naved Ahmed (all HoDs), Vikram Singh, Sr.COA, Shashank Singh, Sr. Principal Scientist, Saurabh Saran, Convenor, CSIR Foundation Day Org. Committee and Dilip Kumar Gehlot, SPO were present. Dr. Deepika Singh conducted the proceedings while Er Abdul Rahim, Head RMBD & IST presented the formal vote of thanks.