The 97th Indian Science Congress held at University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala was inaugurated by Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. The theme of the science congress was “Science and Technology Challenges of 21st Century- National Perspective”. The Prime Minister announced that the National Science and Engineering Research Board will start functioning before March 2010. He urged the scientific institutions to introspect and propose mechanisms for greater autonomy, including autonomy from the government, which could help to improve standards. He invited the scientific community to explore the various issues and suggest what needs to be done to liberate Indian science from bureaucratism so that latent talent and creative energies of our scientists and engineers can be unleashed. He said that our scientific establishments should step up global alliances to expose our scientists to the best in the world and enhance competitiveness. Chief Executive Officer, Biotech Park, Dr. P.K. Seth was the Sectional President of the New Biology Section. Under this section, three symposia, namely, “Genomics in Health and Disease”; “Recent Advances in Biomedical Sciences: Emphasis on Heart and Lung Diseases” and “Innovative Technologies” were held. The keynote lecture of the Symposium on Genomics in Health and Disease was delivered by Dr. Samir K. Brahmachari, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, New Delhi. Dr. Amit Sharma, Group Leader & Staff Scientist, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi delivered the Platinum Jubilee Lecture; Dr. Sudhir K. Sopory, Professor & Group Leader, Plant Molecular Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi delivered the Professor S.S. Katiyar Endowment Lecture and Dr. Suneel Kateriya, Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi, New Delhi delivered the Young Scientist Award Lecture. In all 15 symposia talks, 3 invited lectures, 3 oral presentations and 72 poster presentations were made. A brief presentation on “Fulbright Fellowship Opportunities to the U.S.” was made by Sudarsan Dash, Senior Program Manager (Indian Program), United States-India Educational Foundation, Fulbright Commission in India, New Delhi. All sessions were well attended and the young researchers and students found the Symposium on Innovative Technologies very interesting. Click here for Scientific Programme of the New Biology Section