About the All India People’s Science Network
The All India Peoples Science Network is a network of over forty Peoples Science organisations spread all over the country. The AIPSN started its activities as a network of activist organisations involved in Science Popularisation and in examining related to the interface of science with society. Since the pioneering efforts of the Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, in 1987, supported by the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), the AIPSN has emerged as a pioneer in activities related to science communication and popularisation.
The AIPSN, which had its initial thrust in the area of Science Communication, pioneered the efforts of adult literacy in the country in 1990. It nucleated the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti, which went on to spearhead the Total Literacy Campaigns in Districts across the country in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). The success of the literacy movements and the subsequent integration of several state level BGVS organisations in the AIPSN significantly increased the reach of the AIPSN to over half the Districts in the country. The literacy movements in the AIPSN have now built on the massive mobilisation achieved through the total literacy programmes, and include activities related to continuing education, school education, women's empowerment, credit co-operative movements, rural micro-enterprises, etc,
The third major area of intervention by the AIPSN has been in the area of economic scientific, and technological self-reliance. The AIPSN was engaged in two major communication and mobilisation exercises called Hamara Desh (Our Country) and Desh Ko Jano Desh Ko Badlo (Know your country, Save your Country) in the nineties. The programmes focused on encouraging local area planning and resource mapping and carried the message of local capability building for self-reliance. In addition to such co-ordinated programmes, member organisations within the AIPSN have done studies, conducted campaigns and created awareness on sectors such as health, pharmaceuticals, power, telecommunications, peace and disarmament, broader issues of globalisation, intellectual property rights, issues related to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), etc. Several studies and publications on these issues have been brought out by AIPSN member organisations.
In the conduct of such campaigns the AIPSN uses diverse communication strategies using slide shows, video films, public meetings, street theatre, etc. The AIPSN has used the mobile street theatre form (Kala Jatha) very effectively in the course of its campaigns. Thirty years after its formation, the AIPSN has a significant presence in over half the districts in the country, spread across all major states.
Such experiences and principal area of work involving network partners will also be presented and critically analyzed in the Congress.
All India People’s Science Congress
The All India People’s Science Network (AIPSN) proposes to organize the XVIth All India People’s Science Congress (AIPSC) in Bhubaneswar in February 2017. The Congress will involve participation of 700 delegates from across the country and shall address issues related to science and technology, clustered into different thematic areas. Delegates to the congress will represent a spectrum of representation, including scientists, academics, policy makers, activists working at community levels, etc.
The technical sessions of the Congress will be organised around several sub themes such as: Science Popularization; Environment, Climate Change & Development; S & T, Emerging Technologies & Self Reliance; Decentralization and Democratization & Technology Application; Agriculture & Food Security; Education; Health; and Social Exclusions. The technical sessions will include around 8 sub-plenary sessions (each attended by about 300 delegates) and 30 workshops (with about 30-50 participants in each).
Discussions at the Congress will be designed to share previous experiences of the AIPSN in these areas and in conceiving future designs of programmes that address the objective of promoting and popularising science and technology related issues.
The Congress shall also be an occasion to discuss the All India Campaign being conducted by the AIPSN titled Hamara Desh, Sabka Desh. (see later)
AIPSC: Previous Congresses
The All India Peoples Science Network organises the All India Peoples Science Congress periodically, as an occasion to share experience among member organisations and to work out directions of working in the future. The XVIth All India Congress is to be organised in Bhubaneshwar in February 2017. The local organization responsible for organising the Congress will be Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Odishain association with the National Secretariat of the AIPSN, currently based in Hyderabad.
Following is the chronology of previous Congresses organized by the AIPSN:
| AIPSC | Venue | Year | Local Organising Group(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Cannanore | 1987 | Kerala Shastra Sahita Parishad |
| Second | Calcutta | 1988 | Paschim Banga Vigyan Mancha |
| Third | Bangalore | 1989 | Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishad |
| Fourth | Mumbai | 1990 | Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishad |
| Fifth | Hissar | 1992 | Haryana Vigyan Manch |
| Sixth | Hyderabad | 1994 | A.P.Jana Vigyan Vedika |
| Seventh | Bhopal | 1996 | Madhya Pradesh Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Madhya Pradesh Vigyan Sabha |
| Eighth | Nalanda | 1998 | Bihar Gyan Vigyan Samiti |
| Ninth | Chennai | 2001 | Tamilnadu Science Forum |
| Tenth | Shimla | 2003 | Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti |
| Eleventh | Guwahati | 2006 | BGVS-Assam, Assam Science Society |
| Twelfth | Ranchi | 2008 | BGVS Jharkhand |
| Thirteenth | Thrissur | 2010 | Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad |
| Fourteenth | Lucknow | 2013 | Bihar Gyan Vigyan Samiti, UP |
| Fifteenth | Bengaluru | 2015 | Bihar Gyan Vigyan Samiti, Karnataka and Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishat |
Venue:
National Institute of Science Education and Research Bhubaneswar(NISER)
P.O. Jatni, Khurda
Pin. 752050, Odisha, India
About the Congress
"The All India People's Science Congress (AIPSC) is the biennial event where delegates of the member organizations of the All India People's Science Network (AIPSN) come together to discuss the question ofScientific Rationality and the issue of Social Development and Progress, and to review the working of the science movement and decide the future goals for AIPSN."Read More
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