Mangalore : A Two Day Science Fair on the Theme “Materials for the Future” for science students and faculty of under graduate collages of Mangalore University region,  was inaugurated at the Conference hall of  St Agnes College (Autonomous) on February 27, Wednesday. The  science fair has been organised by the Department of Physics and Chemistry of St Agnes College.

Prof.Swapan Bhattacharya, Director  of NITK, Suratkal inaugurated the Science Fair and delivered the key-note address.Dr. Sr. Prem D’Souza, Principal of St Agnes College, presided over the function.

Speaking after inaugurating the event, Prof Swapan Bhattacharya Director of National Institute of Technology Karnataka (Surathkal) said that today our country is giving importance to knowledge, where skills are not recognized and encouraged.

Present day engineering colleges produce engineering graduates and professionals of poor quality who will not contribute anything to the society. This will continue until society gives equal importance to skills, he said.

In the future career prospects, Science cannot be ignored. Everything in the world including products, education, health and media are functioning with the business motive.

Prof Swapan Bhattacharya urged the students, to enjoy their profession with passion.

Delivering the presidential address, principal of the College Sr Prem D’Souza urged the students to understand the purpose of their living and discover new scientific concepts every day.

 Dr Sadhana Atavar, Curator, of Visweshwaraiah Museum, Bangalore,spoke on ‘Science Centres and Museum.” Another panel discussion on ‘Science Writing and Popularisation’ was participated by Dr Arun Isloor, Associate Professor, NITK. KM Shanker, Associate Professor, College of Fisheries, spoke on ‘Fisheries Science’ while Dr Ashoka, Department of Criminology, Roshni Nilaya, spoke on ‘Forensic Science.’

Dr Saraswathi S Rao, Head of Physics Department and Prof Ronald Mascarenhas, Head of Chemistry Department were present on the occasion.

On February 28, there will be a Science Day celebration Lecture  from 9.30 am to 10.30 am. Dr Mahesh KK, Professor, Department of Basic Science, Vivekananda College of Engineering and Technology, Puttur, will speak on ‘Smart Materials.’

There will be panel discussions on ‘Remote Sensing’ ‘Atomic Energy Fundamental Particles’ and ‘Health Products and Pharmaceuticals” and “Dynamic Earth”from 10.30 am to 1 pm. Dr Gangadhara Bhat of Department of Marine Geology of Mangalore University, Dr Karunakera, USIC, Mangalore University, Dr KV Udupa, Scientist, Sequent Scientific Ltd, Bangalore and Dr Jayaprakash C, Senior Geologist, GSI Mangalore will respectively speak on the topics.

There will be Technical Interaction and Exhibition by Akbar Filmvala, Zeal-Tech Technologies, Mumbai and other exhibits from 2 pm to 4 pm.

The certificates will also be distributed to participants of the programme.