Two-day long 20th Foundation Day celebrations of IISER Mohali concluded with emphasis on science, innovation, public engagement and collaboration
Mohali, Addressing climate change requires more than scientific and technological solutions, it calls for meaningful public engagement, dialogue and collective action, lauded Prof. (Dr.) Shekhar C. Mande, President, Indian National Science Academy (INSA) while delivering the 20th Foundation Day Lecture on ‘Climate Change – Connecting science with society’ at IISER Mohali on Sunday.
Highlighting the growing urgency of climate action, Prof. Mande said science provides the evidence to understand a changing climate, assess risks and anticipate their consequences, but scientific knowledge alone cannot determine how communities and societies should respond. “The challenge is not only to generate scientific knowledge, but also to connect it meaningfully with public engagements,” he emphasized.
Referring to recent climate-related disasters, he pointed to the devastating glacier collapse in Nepal and the melting polar regions as reminders of the concerning scale of the climate challenge.
Prof. Mande stressed that public engagement cannot remain a one-way communication exercise in which scientific information is simply disseminated to people. It must involve dialogue, listening to people’s experiences and concerns, building trust and enabling citizens to participate in informed decisions that affect their lives and future.
He also highlighted the importance of climate literacy in schools and colleges, communicating through regional languages and relatable examples, addressing misinformation and placing greater emphasis on solutions.
On the occasion, the institute’s Annual Report 2025–26 and the souvenir “IISER Mohali: A Twenty-Year Journey (2006–2026)” were released by the chief guest in the presence of Guest of Honour Kamal Kishore Yadav, IAS, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Environment, Govt of Punjab and Prof. Anil K. Tripathi, Director, IISER, Mohali.
Later Sakshi from Deptt of Chemical Sciences and Anirudh Mishra from Deptt of Mathematics were conferred with Dr. Manmohan Singh Fellowships. This fellowship is instituted by Dr Manmohan Singh Trust from this year onwards at IISER, Mohali
Present on the occasion, Kamal Kishore Yadav in his address highlighted the importance of scientific institutions in contributing to wider development and strengthening the interface between science, technology and society.
Earlier in the day, Prof Mande also inaugurated the innovation lab and weather forecasting website for Punjab at the campus.
