57

Science PopularizationPopularization of science among the masses constitutes a major programme of NISCAIR. Under this programme,the institute publishes three well-circulated popular science magazines, Science Reporter (English monthly), VigyanPragati (Hindi monthly), and Science ki Duniya (Urdu quarterly) apart from a number of popular science books, witha view to generating awareness about scientific developments and creating a scientific temper among the studentsand the lay public. The institute also focuses on the R&D activities of CSIR labs through the newsletters—CSIRNews and CSIR Samachar.

�������� ���������������� ����������Science Reporter����������������������������������������������Launched in 1964, Science Reporterentered into its 43rd year ofpublication in 2006. This is one ofthe oldest English languagepopular science monthliespublished in India, enjoying a widereadership throughout the country.During 2005-06, it continued withits objective of providing to itsreaders topical coverage of issues

experts. Some of the importanttopics covered during this periodare Anyone Out There? (April 2005)on the search for extraterrestrialintelligence; Einstein’s MiraculousYear (May 2005) on the greatscientific achievements of Einstein;Ageing—The Inevitable Truth (July2005) on staying fit at the fag end oflife; Electric Vehicles for a Clean Future(August 2005) on how electricvehicles can usher in pollution-freetransportation; Hubble SpaceTelescope (August 2005) on the gianteye in the sky; Is The Tiger Doomed?(September 2005) on the plight ofthe Indian tiger; Is The New Discoverya Planet? (October 2005) on thediscovery of 2003UB313; DeepImpact (October 2005) on the uniqueexperimental venture of thespacecraft Deep Impact; When theEarth Shook (November 2005) on theKashmir earthquake; GrandioseGlaciers (December 2005) on themelting glaciers; Tonic in a Tea Cup(February 2006) on the healthbenefits of tea.

�������� �������������� �������������� ���������Special Issues����� �������������� ������Five special issues were broughtout—May 2005 issue was a Physicsspecial to commemorate the WorldYear of Physics-2005; July 2005issue was on Ageing; October 2005issue on Astronomy; the January2006 issue was an Agriculturespecial and the March 2006 issuewas a special on Health.

������������ ������������������� ������������� Interactive Columns���������������������������������������������������• The column Puzzle Corner

continued to attract mass ap-

peal judging by hundreds ofentries received every month inresponse to the Prize Puzzle.The winners of the Prize Puzzlewere finalized after a draw oflots from among the hundredsof correct entries received everymonth.

• The column Point Counter-point, involving a debate onspecific issues of concern, hasbeen attracting wide participa-tion.

������� �������������� �������������� �����������Vigyan Pragati��� �������������� �������This widely circulated monthlypopular science magazine in Hindiwas launched in 1952. Running inits 55th year, Vigyan Pragati,endeavours to introduce its readerswith the important current events/issues in an easy-to-understandmanner. Special issues on varioustopics are also brought out from timeto time. All columns of the

in various fields such as informationtechnology, wildlife, environment,space, nuclear technology, healthand biotechnology as well as lightreading material such as humour,amazing scientific facts, profiles ofscientists, science projects,inventions and discoveries andmuch more.

������ �������������� �������������� ������������Major Articles�� �������������� ��������Efforts were made to give acontemporary look to the magazineby inviting special articles from

NISCAIR Annual Report�����2005-06

58

magazine are not only veryinteresting but also are capable ofcreating inquisitiveness in the mindof its readers.

������ �������������� ����������Major Articles����������������������������������������Some of the major articles coveredin the issues during the period are:Tsunami; Valuable Earthworm; RoundWorms and Diseases caused by them;Robots; Mushrooms; Pollan grains andHoney; Science News; Is Prediction ofEarthquake Possible? Science Quiz onDays; Chitrakatha on Enriko Fermi(April 2005); Mangroves; ConjointTwins; One Year on Mars; Electricity;Book Reviews; Science Quiz onClassification of Elements; Protect theTiger, Chitrakatha on M.Vishweswaraya (May 2005);Environment FriendlyWormitechnology; Fun withMathematics; Career in AeronauticalEngineering; Insecticides in Food Items;Metal Pollution Depleting Plants;Water Pollution; Science Quiz onBlood; Chitrakatha on Thomas AAdison (June 2005 –Special Issue onEnvironment); Vanila; Fun withMathematics; Rosemary; NationalAgricultural Museum; Virus FreePlants; Jatropha; Aloe vera; ScienceQuiz on Fish; Chitrakatha on P.Maheshwari (July 2005); Einstein;Database Management System; SMS,EMS and MMS; AryabhatObservatory; Glaciers; Comet : DeepImpact; Science Quiz on Einstein;Chitrkatha on Einstein (August 2005-Special issue on International yearof Physics); Lavender; Digital DateCard; Radiation and Its Effects;Padmashri S R Ranganathan; Funwith Mathematics; Science Quiz onSpace; Chitrakatha on B P Pal(September 2005); Wild LifeProtection; Cheeta and State Animalsand Birds; Snow Leopard; Science Quizon Birds; Chitrakatha on J. B. S. (March2006 –Special issue on Physics).

Pressure; Danton Ki Gandagi VaImraje Kalb; Nimla (Herpes Zoster) aurUska Ilaj (Oct. – Dec. 2005); Ajib vaGarib Neelae Badal, E-governance,Stem Cells-Masayal Pneumonia Ke,Asbab Va Ilaz, Hipnotism Kia Hai, AurJaljala-Jamini Balai Naghani (Jan-March 2006).

� � Outreach Programme� � � � � �� � � � � � � �� � � � � � � �� � � � � � � �� � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � �� � � � � � � � �Under this programme, 1000posters, subscription forms, etc.each for Science Reporter and VigyanPragati are being sent to variousschools every month beginningfrom January 2005. During the year,the outreach programme wasinitiated also for Science Ki Duniya.This effort has been yielding goodresults. Over 5000 subscriptions(Science Reporter 3500, VigyanPragati 1000 and Science Ki Duniya500) have been received, besides alarge number of subscriptionqueries from various schools.

����� ��������� ��������� ������CSIR News��� ��������� ����CSIR News, the fortnightlynewsletter of Council of Scientific& Industrial Research, is intendedto serve as a useful link among thevarious CSIR establishments and tocommunicate activities/accomplishments of the Council toother R&D organizations,universities, S&T agencies/departments, industry and otherusers, mass media, etc. Runninginto its 56th year (2006) ofpublication, it also disseminatesinformation regarding CSIR to othercountries through Indian missionsabroad and foreign missions inIndia.

During 2005-06 it publishednews pertaining to R&D

�������� ��� �������Science Ki Duniya������� ��� �������������� ��� �������������� ��� �������������� ��� ������Science Ki Duniya, the quarterlypopular science magazine in Urdu,is among the widely read Urdumagazine in the country. It enteredinto its 32nd year in 2006. During2005-2006, Science Ki Duniyacontinued to disseminateinformation on current scientifictopics in an easy-to-understandand attractive manner.

The major articles publishedduring the year include: TsunamiLehron Ka Kahar; Allergy MadafateNizam Ki Khata; Karah Maidi aurUska Ilaj (GastricUlcer); DNA Secretand Chamakdar Rangon WaleJehreeley Mendak Ki Hairat AngezKhasusiat (April – June 2005);Biotechnology Bani Novei Insan KiKhidmat Main; Spirulina Kudrat KaAnmol Tagjia Hamir AnkhenSmandari Jaljal Lehren – Tsunami;Homeland Security Ke Kaam; KudratKi Ek Hairat Angez Makhlook Marjan(Coral) (July-Sept. 2005); Heart AttackSe Kaise Bachen; Council of Scientificand Industrial Research: Sehat SeMuttalick Tahquiqui Jaija; Jiabetes;Hami Dimagi Nikhai (Gardan TodBukhar); Aabi Aalodgi aur InsaniSehat; Hypertension aur High Blood

59

Science Popularization

accomplishments, technologytransfers, marketing,commercialization/utilization,sponsorships, collaborations, IPR,etc. Also covered were new facilities,important conferences, seminars,workshops, training programmes,important events such asFoundation Day celebrationslectures, appointment of directors,announcements regardingforthcoming events, etc.Contributions of S.S. BhatnagarPrize-winners were also published.

Several special issues ondifferent occasions were brought outduring the period, viz. (i) 30 June 2005issue on National Technology DayCelebration, (ii) 15 July 2005 issue onCSIR Society Meeting, (iii) 30 October2005 issue on Foundation Day and(iv) 15 November 2005 issue onpresentation of CSIR DiamondJubilee Technology Award (2004)and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizesfor 2004-2005. This issue publishedspeeches delivered on the occasionby Dr Manmohan Singh, PrimeMinister of India, and Shri KapilSibal, Minister for Science &Technology and OceanDevelopment. CSIR e-JournalsConsortium — A quick SearchReference Guide, was brought out asVol. 55 Supplement in July 2005. The

30 January 2006 issue was broughtout as a special issue on 93rd IndianScience Gongress held at Hyderabad.This issue also published speechesof Dr Manmohan Singh, PrimeMinister of India, Shri Kapil Sibal,Minister for Science & Technologyand Ocean Development, and DrR.A. Mashelkar, Director General,CSIR, delivered during IndianScience Congress.

����� ������������� ������������� ���������CSIR Samachar���� ������������� ��������Launched in 1984, CSIR Samacharis now in its 23rd year ofpublication. It is a monthly newsbulletin in Hindi, which covers thenews pertaining to variousactivities/programme, particularlythe R&D activities of the variouslaboratories of CSIR andconsequently serves as a useful linkamong the various CSIRconstituents. It also disseminatesinformation to other S&Tdepartments, universities, etc.

The July 2005 issue of CSIRSamachar was on NationalTechnology Day celebration,August 2005 issue on CSIR Societymeeting and October 2005 issue onthe CSIR Foundation Day.

The November & December2005 issues of CSIR Samachar

exclusively covered thepresentation/announcement of thevarious CSIR awards, includingShanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes,Technology Shield/Awards, YoungScientist Awards and CSIRDiamond Jubilee TechnologyAward and CSIR Foundation Dayand Hindi Pkhwara/Saptah/Divas Celebrations of CSIRlaboratories, etc.

� HealthTechnology ��������������������as Future Fulcrum��������������� of Development ������������������ for the Nation ��������Brought out during 2005-06, HealthTechnology as Future Fulcrum ofDevelopment for the Nation (pp 272)gives overviews of the varioussessions of the 92nd Session of theIndian Science Congress held inAhemdabad and interviews ofeminent scientists conducted by theNISCAIR team during the session.This is fifth in the series of suchbooks being brought out byNISCAIR covering the ISC sessions.Earlier books covered the ISCsessions held in New Delhi,Lucknow, Bangalore andChandigarh.