Subhas Chandra Pattanayak
The Indian National Science Academy (INSA), presently playing a major role through inter Academy Advisory Panel constituted for Department of Science And Technology and involved in expressing the considered opinion of its fellows on major policy issues concerning science and scientists, had, in a recent a brainstorming session on Nutrition Security for India formulated a set of recommendations, which were finalized in the 75th General Body Meeting of the Academy held in NISER Bhubaneswar on October 1, 2009. It was preferred that the NISER should help evolving its implementation strategies.
Along with the General Body Meeting it organized 3 major lectures: (a) Genome Analysis for Genetic Enhancement of Rice by Prof. Akhilesh Tyagi, Director NIPGR New Delhi, (b) Synchrotron Radiation: A Powerful Tool to Probe Matter by Prof D.D Sarma, IACS Kolkata and (c) Plant Watching by Prof. HY Mohan Ram, Former Head Dept of Botany, University of Delhi. These lectures were widely attended by local scientific community and students from nearby institutions.
A recently released INSA document (April 2009) regarding the post school science education programme has been widely accepted by the policy planners, says a press note issued by its Registrar, Abhay K. Naik.
According to Sri Naik, the INSA document on the Role of Women in Science and other Reports such as Instrumentation: A Road Map for India, Guidelines for Use of Animals for laboratory experiments etc have been used by the scientists and government for evolving their guidelines.