The Mahakumbh of science

Superstars of general sciences to descend on IIIT-Allahabad and interact with eager students

It is known as a celestial meeting point of holy rivers in Hindu mythology that draws millions every 13 years. But this time round, Allahabad is gearing up for a confluence of a different kind.

"It is the Mahakumbh of science," says M D Tiwari, director, Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT).

In the next week, Tiwari and staff will be host to a congregation of the creme de la creme of general sciences and teenagers.

Eight Nobel laureates will share their experience with scientists, teachers and students, including 600 from the secondary schools of Uttar Pradesh, at the Sixth Science Conclave, December 8-14.

"We are expecting 2,300-2,500 participants. Over 300 have arrived on the campus. The rest will be here on Sunday," said S Verma, professor of wireless communications, overseeing the logistics.(NOBEL PANTHEON)

About 80 foreign student participants are expected from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations and some African countries.

Tiwari is supervising everything from travel arrangements of the laureates to the little Buddha mementos to be given to the delegates. The conclave was born out of his experience.

The prime minister was worried about the brilliant not opting for general sciences. "I suggested the idea of such a conclave. In 1969, I got a chance to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting in Germany. That changed my life. I got into science."

The annual meet is by an association of laureates and has a legacy dating back to 1950s. "There are 300 laureates. It is difficult to have a rapport with everyone. We write to 50-60 a year. We try to get someone from each branch: Physics, chemistry, mathematics and bioscience."

The conclave has managed to rekindle interest in science, organisers say. At least 70 per cent of the participants of previous years had taken to science and gotten into research. One was offered an internship by a laureate.

While the institute says it picks the "brightest and brilliant" students to participate, students are not clear with regard to the criteria.

Guest laureates look to explore India. Most are keen to explore Jaipur and Agra.

The event faced a nightmare in 2008, after embassies issued travel advisories following the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai. That year, 12 had confirmed participation. But many started withdrawing. Tiwari tried to convince them Allahabad was far away and unaffected. French Professor Claude Cohen Tonnoudji responded positively. "Not only did he make it a point to attend, he donated the honorarium of $5,000 we paid to the institute. We asked him to donate $3,000 more and we instituted a gold medal in his name." Tonnoudji is visiting again this year.

Unofficial estimates put the spend on the conclave at Rs 30 crore. Most is government-funded. The institute also raises money via donations.

Started in 1999, the IIIT comes under the department of science and technology. Murli Manohar Joshi, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who himself was a professor in Allahabad University, felt there was a need for such an institution in this area.

The institute was carved out from four rooms on the campus. By the time the National Democratic Alliance government left office in 2004, it had got the status of a deemed university. It moved to a green campus in Jhalwa, 8 km from here.

"He did a lot," says Tiwari on Joshi, but adds he doesn't have a role in the conclave.

Amina, Zelina and Stimir are part of a group of Russian students who have come from Nalchik, capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic.

They are led by professor Muaed Muzafovich Oshkhunov who teaches maths in Kabardino-Balkarian State University. "Thirty students from IIIT had come to our campus. We are on a return visit."

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