09.09.2026- Governor felicitates Prof Lakshmi Kantam in the conference at ICT Mumbai
Science Must Reach Society from the Laboratory – Governor Jishnu Dev Varma
ICT should organise an annual ‘Science and Society Week’
Scientific research and innovation should not remain confined to laboratories and research papers, but should contribute to solving problems faced by society. The ultimate objective of scientific research should be to improve society and people’s lives, said Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Wednesday (9 September).
The Governor was addressing an international conference on Green Chemistry and Sustainable Engineering organised at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Matunga, Mumbai. The conference was organised jointly by ICT, Mumbai and the Indian Chemical Society in honour of senior scientist Prof. M. Lakshmi Kantam.
Governor Varma urged scientists to focus on developing green technology solutions that are practical, affordable and scalable for widespread use.
Against the backdrop of India’s rapidly expanding manufacturing and chemical industries, institutions such as ICT and the Indian Chemical Society should contribute towards making India a global hub for green chemistry, catalysis and sustainable chemical engineering, he said.
India should not remain limited to adopting technologies developed by other countries, but should develop technologies that the world will adopt, the Governor said.
‘Science and Society Week’ should be organised
Governor Varma made a special suggestion that ICT should organise a ‘Science and Society Week’ every year.
During the week, the institute should open its campus and laboratories to citizens, college students and schoolchildren and explain its ongoing research and innovations to the public in simple language, he said.
Such an initiative would strengthen public confidence in science, promote scientific temper among young people and build stronger links between laboratories and society, the Governor said.
“The ultimate purpose of science is public service. Citizens should know what areas our scientists are working in, what problems they are trying to solve and how their research can be useful in everyday life,” he said.
“For at least one week every year, science should come out of the laboratories and reach the people directly,” the Governor said.
More leadership opportunities for women in science
The Governor also stressed the need to provide greater opportunities to women in science. Expressing satisfaction over the felicitation of 12 accomplished women scientists at the conference, he said institutions should create a supportive environment enabling women scientists to reach the highest levels of research leadership, university administration, entrepreneurship and industry.
Chemical engineering has acquired a reputation as a polluting industry, but the solutions to the problem of pollution will also emerge from this very field, said ICT Vice Chancellor Prof. Aniruddha Pandit.
ICT has produced 18 Padma Award-winning scientists and around 7,000 first-generation entrepreneurs, said former ICT Vice Chancellor and President of the Indian Chemical Society Dr. Ganapati Yadav.
Former ICT Vice Chancellor Prof. M. M. Sharma said universities in Maharashtra need to produce a much larger number of researchers and PhD scholars.
Prof. M. Lakshmi Kantam felicitated
Senior woman scientist Prof. M. Lakshmi Kantam was felicitated by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma for her outstanding contribution to the fields of green chemistry and sustainable engineering.
Senior scientist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Prof. M. M. Sharma was also felicitated by the Governor. Women scientists were specially recognised at the conference for their contributions to science and research.
Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Padma Bhushan Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary to the Governor Dr. Prashant Narnaware, and a large number of scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs and students were present on the occasion.