The salient activities of the Department and the State Council in 2005-2006 and the proposed activities for 2006-2007 are mentioned herein:

Edusat Programme:

WEdusat programmes for science communication and disaster preparedness are being initiated in the state in close coordination with the Relief Dept. and the assistance of Vigyan Prasar, DST, GOI

Talkback Terminals will be a system for interactive satellite communication network for science communication and disaster preparedness. The first such terminal is being set up at Tamluk, Purba Medinipur. The terminal is expected to be established within 2/3 months. Subsequently, such talk back terminals are proposed to be extended to the other parts of the State in consultation with Vigyan Prasar.

Jal Chetana Jatha :

AToday, proper management of water resources and its conservation is to be given the highest priority because of the depleting water levels and specially for the drought prone areas. With a multiple objective of creating awareness amongst the people about the water resources, their uses, conservation, need for rainwater harvesting and other water related problems, Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha organized a State-wide “Jal Chetana Jatha” during this year. This department sponsored this programme.

State Science & Technolgy Congress:

The 13th State Science & Technology Congress was held as a part of the National Science Day Celebration on 28th February - 1st March 2006 at Ballygunge Science College Campus of Calcutta University in collaboration with the Calcutta University and in association with Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha. The objective of this Congress is to promote the culture of science and technology in the vernacular language of the State so that its effect can reach the remotest corners and to encourage people to be aware with the recent findings in Science & Technology. This Congress also helps to ventilate new S & T ideas and solutions for the location specific problems.

This year the State Science & Technology Congress was organized on a very large scale to join the 150 years celebration of Calcutta University. Displays on the recent advancements in science and the works of the leading Research Institutes/Universities of West Bengal was organized at the Ballygunge Science College Campus for the benefit of the students, scholars and science enthusiasts. All the concerned Departments of Calcutta University and leading R&D Institutes of our state exhibited their major advancements and achievements.

Apart from this, the State announces various Awards for contribution in the field of science for its awareness and popularization to persons, NGOs & authors of books in Bengali on Science or Technology for children. Forum of Scientists, Engineers & Technologists (FOSET) received the ‘Megnad Puraskar’ as the best Non-Government Organization for their contributions in the field of science for its awareness and popularization. Dr. Bhabani Prasad Mukhopadhyay and to Sri Asokendu Sengupta jointly received the ‘Satyendra Puraskar’ as the authors of the best popular science books in 'Bengali' for school students up to 18 years for their books for his book “Prakitik Biparjoy” and “Bisesh Apekkhikatar Tatya” respectively.

“Mahalanobish Smriti Baktritar Sankalan” comprising of lectures delivered by stalwart scientists of Bengal and “ Raro Bangler Bhesojo Udbhider Chasabad” published by Science & Technology Council & Department, Govt. of West Bengal were released the Science Congress.

The "Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis Memorial Lecture 2006" was delivered by Prof. Sandip Basu, former Director & eminent Scientist, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. on Immunology, “ Arnikher Mayabi Bullet : ek antabihin anweshan” during the inaugural session.

Other Eminent Scientists, namely, Prof. Amiya Bagchi, Economist; Prof. Debasish Mukherjee, Director, Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, Kolkata; Prof. Himadri Sekhar Maity, Director, Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute Kolkata; Dr. Baidyanath Chakroborty, Director, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Kolkata delivered ‘Invited lectures’ on the various field of Science & Technology during the science Congress.

The Technical Session was held after the inaugural programme on 28th February, 2006 and on 1st March, 2006, at the Ballygunge Science College Campus of Calcutta University. The presentation of papers was distributed over 6 parallel sessions before the Chairman and Expert. The presentation was categorized into 9 (nine) groups. (1) Physical Science, (2) Technology, (3) Agricultural Science, (4) Life Science, (5) Medical Science and Public Health, (6) Biotechnology, (7) Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences, (8) Science Popularization & (9) Social Science. ‘Best Paper Award’ was given in each category to the ‘author’ of Research Paper considered to be the best by experts.


The other science popularization programmes initiated with funds from this Department are:

• “Children’s Science Festival”, organized by Hooghly Women’s College”

• “International Symposium on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Product in Biomedicine”, organized by S.N. Pradhan Centre for Neurosciences.

• “Importance of Santhal Medicine for management of Public health, organized by J.B. Roy State Ayurvedic College & Hospital.

• “Role of Medicinal Plant in Indian system of Medicine”, organized by Juresa Gramin Paribar Samity, Howrah.

• “Embankments of Sunderban and related issues”, organized jointly by DST in coordination with Sunderban Affairs Department and Irrigation & Waterways Department, Govt. of West Bengal.

• Molecular Mechanism of Diseases and Drug Action“ organized by Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics.

• State Level Seminar on “International Year of Physics & Albert Einstein” organised by Paschimbanga Vigyan Mancha.

Intellectual Property Rights:

A Intellectual Property (IP) protection plays a key role in gaining an advantageous position in the competitive technological game for achieving economic growth. India in general & West Bengal in particular, enjoys a large asset of R&D personnel and infra-structural facilities. Scientists & Policy-makers are required to have more information, orientation and facilities for protecting their intellectual prowess. This need has become more pronounced in the globalized economy with international agreement and obligations in the field of IPR in the WTO regime. The importance of Intellectual Property is now more pronounced in the context of emergence of high technology knowledge based industrial potential in all frontier areas. In the new global environment, the emphasis on competition and innovation has brought academic and R&D institution in the main stream of business environment where they are required to play an increasing role in International trade and commercialization of Knowledge-based products and technologies.

Patent Information Centre (PIC) of the West Bengal State Council of Science and Technology functions under Technology Information, Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC) of Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India. This Centre functions as a service centre to render Patent related services among the S & T Community in West Bengal with the objective of

• Creating awareness about IPRs, especially in the neighbourhood region of this Centre.
• Enabling patent searches and filing for the University, R&D Institution, Industry, Government Departments.
• Analysis of patent information on a regular basis.
• Focusing on current trends and prospective technology development areas.
• Guiding the inventors in patenting their invention

Patent Information Centre is well equipped with International Patent databases from USPTO (United State Patent & Trademark Office), EPO (European Patent Office), WIPO (World Intellectual & Property Organisation) to provide professional level service to Academician, Scientist, Researcher, Industries of the state and also neighbouring States.
Some of the programmes of the Patent Information Centre during 2005-06 are
• Sensitising Scientist, Academician, Technologists, Industrialists, Professionals and other intellectuals of the state through intensive awareness campaign at different forums like Post graduate Medical College, Durgapur Govt. College, Krishnanagar Govt. College, with School children of North 24 pgs district area , Industrial India Trade fair poster campaigning.
• Introduction of Intellectual Property Right in the in B.Tech & M.Tech level courses of West Bengal University of Technology
• Documentation for three important Items like Bardhamner Mihidana, Sitabhog & Maldaha Mango for registration under Geographical Indication of West Bengal is under process.
• Facilitated filing of two patents for Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya.
• Three patents are under process for filing (two for Calcutta University & one for Directorate of Fisheries, W.B.).
• Served 20 requests for patent search received from Universities, Individuals, Administrative Departments, Grass-root innovators.
• Participated in different National and International level Manpower development programme organized by TIFAC, DST-GoI, NRDC.
• Special multimedia Module on IPR for School Students prepared.

These activities are proposed to be continued during 2006-07 with emphasis on career building programme for professional level students, Manpower Development in the field of IPR management motivations for Registration under Geographical Indications.