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POPULARISATION of sc ience and dissemination of scientific information to a wide section of the Indian citizenry has

been a major mandate of CSIR, which is being fulfilled by CSIR-NISCAIR. This is born out of the realization that inculcation of scientific temper and enhancing scientific awareness empowers citizens and transforms societies.

CSIR-NISCAIR takes science to the people through its three well-known popular science magazines: Science Reporter (English monthly), Vigyan Pragati (Hindi monthly) and Science-ki-Duniya (Urdu quarterly). The magazines find wide circulation throughout the country. Riding on their high quality of content, exquisite production quality, and timeliness the magazines have today become the largest selling popular science magazines in the country.

With their wide coverage of scientific issues, latest scientific updates and by providing opportunities for young and budding science writers to display their writing talent, the magazines are playing an important role of attracting students towards science.

As part of its science popularization mandate, CSIR-NISCAIR has also brought out a large number of popular science books, which remain much in demand several years after their publication.

The institute also publishes the Council’s R&D newsletters, viz. CSIR News and CSIR Samachar, which serve as purveyor of news regarding activities and accomplishments of CSIR.

CSIR-NISCAIR’s Science Communication through Multimedia Division takes science to the masses through the world of multimedia and cyberspace.

Science ReporterLaunched in 1964, Science Reporter entered into its 53rd year of publication in 2016. During 2014-2016, it continued with its objective of providing to its readers topical coverage of scientific issues from around the world as well as light reading material such as humour, amazing scientific facts, profiles of scientists, inventions, discoveries, debates, science fiction, puzzles and much more.

The magazine covered topical issues of major significance such as Nature’s lessons on living together, Technology addiction, Vulture restaurants, Bullet trains, Ebola threat, Nobel prizes 2014 & 2015, Golden mathematics of life, Searching for Neutrinos, Pluto’s New Horizons, India’s ASTROSAT, 100 years of General Relativity, Sustainable green plastics, 3-D printing, GAGAN – India’s own GPS, Gravitational Waves, Embryo editing, etc.

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Special IssuesTo provide an added focus on certain topics of national concern, special issues of the magazine were brought out from time to time:

1. Open Source Drug Discovery (April 2014): Focusing on CSIR’s OSDD project.2. Astronomy (May 2014): Covering topics such as

International Space Station, Extraterrestrial life, Shrinking universe, Artificial stars, etc.

3. Ecology & Environment (June 2014): Focusing on topics such as Water footprint, Ecosystems under threat, Energy from waste, Extinction threat for animals, etc.

4. India’s Mars Mission (November 2014): Covering t h e exc i t i n g I n d i a n achievement of becoming the first country in the wor ld by sending a spacecraft to Mars in the first attempt.

5. National Science Day (February 2015): Fo-cusing on the need for instilling the habit of questioning in students, reforming science education, unsolved questions in science, etc.

6. Women’s Day (March 2015): Focusing women’s health, science in the kitchen, oral health care in pregnancy, mental health of children, etc.

7. International Year of Light (May 2016): Dealing with various aspects of light.

8. Environment Special (June 2015): Focusing on topics such as Dwindling forests, Preserving soils, Slash & burn agriculture, Education for sustainable development, etc.

9. Health & Nutrition (August 2015): Focusing on Keeping eyes healthy, F i g h t i n g D e n g u e & Chikungunya, Defeating cancer with nutrition, Tailor-made drugs, etc.

10. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Special (September 2015): Articles on the charisma of Dr. APJ

Abdul Kalam by Prof. MS Swaminathan, Prof. CNR Rao, Dr. K. Kasturirangan, D r. R . A . M a s h e l ka r, Dr. S. Ayyappan, and Dr. D. Balasubramanian.

11. Genetically Modified Crops (November 2015): Focusing on ethical & scientific dimensions of GMOs, Biosafety & regu-lation of GMOs, Inter-view with Dr. Deepak Pental, & report on Na-tional Symposium on GM crops organized by Vignana Bharati in CSIR-NCL, Pune.

Interactive Columns To enhance its appeal and attract more readers, Science Reporter lays great stress on keeping the contents dynamic by introducing new columns from time to time, such as:

1. Puzzle Corner: This column attracts mass appeal judging by hundreds of entries received every month in response to the prize puzzle. The winners of the prize puzzle are finalized after a draw of lots from among the huge numbers of correct entries received every month.

2. What’s New: This column features new gadgets, inventions, innovations, software, etc.

3. SciPics: Featuring new developments described through photographs.

Science Fiction and Science Cartoon CompetitionsTo involve the readers more closely and also to inculcate the habit of thinking scientifically and creatively, especially among the younger readers, Science Reporter initiated the Science Fiction and Science Cartoon competitions in the year 2008. These competitions have become annual events and are attracting widespread participation from readers from all walks of life.

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Vigyan Pragati Launched in 1952, Vigyan Pragati entered the 64th year of its publication in 2015. Vigyan Pragati endeavours to familiarise its readers with important current events/issues in the field of science in an easy-to-understand manner. The keen interest of the readers is well evident by their feedback through the incessant inflow of letters.

Articles from experts were published on several topical issues to apprise readers of the latest developments. Some of the important topics covered during the period 2014-2016 are: Nutrition and Health, 101st Indian Science Congress-2014, Harmful element Arsenic, Pest Management, Natural Aromatic Oil, E-waste, Solar Water Cooler, Animal Cloning, PSLV Satellite Launching Vehicle, Indian Rail, Ebola, Forensic Science, Mars Mission of ISRO, Nobel Prizes 2014 & 2015, Bullet Train, Swine Flu, Shining Digital India, New Horizons Abhiyan, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, National Rail Museum, Jaivik Kheti, Aabohva ko Kya ho Gya hai, Zika ka Badhta Jaal, etc.

Special IssuesSome special issues of the magazine were published on thematic topics as given below:1. World Health Day (April 2014)2. 101st Indian Science Congress-2014 (May 2014)3. World Environment Day (June 2014)4. Animals (August 2014)5. World Food Day (October 2014

7. World Nature Conservation Day (July 2014)8. Natural Disasters (July 2015)

Science-Ki-DuniyaScience-ki-Duniya, the quarterly popular science journal in Urdu, is among the most widely read Urdu popular science magazines in the country. Entering into the 42nd year of publication in 2016, it continued to disseminate information on current scientific topics in an easy-to-understand and attractive manner.

Some of the major articles published during the period 2014–2016 include Gair zamini zarie kasht, Samundron ka pani aur uska dauran, Science ke azeem sanihat: Bio-medical Technology, Information Technology ke mukhtalif pahluon per ek nazar, Computer ka interview, Raat aur din, Mahauliyat ka daur aur Gandhi ji, Animation ki jaduyee duniya Badam ki ahmiat aur afadiat, Nano Technology ka mustaqbil main istemal, Microwave aur hamri sehat, Mangal yaan ki shaandar kamyabi, Animation ki jaduyee duniya, Safed sher-ek naayab saffak darindah, Gathiya-jodon ki ek taklifdah beemari, Bullet train, Nanotechnology ek mutawaka inqilab, Marie Curie ek naamwar sciencedan, etc.

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CSIR News & CSIR SamacharCSIR-NISCAIR brings out two newsletters that showcase the new developments and achievements of CSIR laboratories and report on events taking place in CSIR. While CSIR News (English) was launched in 1951, the CSIR Samachar (Hindi) was launched in 1984.

The newsletters are intended to serve as a useful link among the various CSIR establishments. They also showcase the achievements of CSIR laboratories to other R&D organizations, universities, S&T agencies/departments, industry, mass media, and also foreign agencies.

CSIR News and CSIR Samachar publish news pertaining to R&D accomplishments, technology transfers, marketing, commercialization/utilization, sponsorships, collaborations, IPR, etc. Also covered are abstracts of high impact factor papers published by CSIR scientists in journals, new facilities, important conferences/seminars/workshops/training programmes, various MoUs signed, important events such as Foundation Day and Technology Day celebrations, lectures, appointment of Directors, announcements regarding forthcoming events, etc.

Full text of CSIR News and CSIR Samachar are hosted on the NISCAIR website (www.niscair.res.in) with link to CSIR website (www.csir.res.in).

Science Communication through MultimediaIn keeping with global trends, CSIR-NISCAIR enlarged its mandate of taking science to the masses by

including the electronic a n d v i s u a l m e d i a . During the period 2015-2016, the SCM Division achieved the following milestones:

Scientifically Yours: CSIR-NISCAIR and Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science and Technology, have jointly developed an inspirational film titled “Scientifically

Yours” on Indian Women Scientists who helped in shaping the Indian Science.

The women scientists have been identified from various fields of research such as Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Immunology, Agriculture, etc. The programme covers selected women scientists, highlighting their achievements

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and advancements and their contributions to Indian Science. The episodes have been telecast on DD Bharti, as a weekly programme.

Eminent scientists who have been covered include Dr. Indira Nath, pioneer in the field of medical sciences who made major contributions and worked for Leprosy; Dr. Bimla Butti, eminent physicist who worked in the field of Plasma Physics; Dr. Kasturi Datta, pioneer in Cellular & Molecular Biology; Dr. Manju Sharma, renowned biotechnologist; Dr. Chandrima Shaha, renowned Endocrinologist; Dr. Chitra Sarkar, eminent Neuropathologist; Dr. Vibha Tandon, working in field of Medicinal Chemistry; Dr. Rupamanjari Ghosh, quantum physicist; Dr. Shashi Wadhwa, renowned medical professional; Dr. Sunita Saxena, eminent pathologist; Dr. Charushita Chakravarty, Chemistry Department, IIT Delhi; Dr. Renu Khanna Chopra, eminent agriculture scientist and Dr. Ridhhi Shah, mathematician.

Eureka: CSIR-NISCAIR, Rajya Sabha TV, and Vigyan Prasar came together to launch ‘Eureka’ a weekly programme, where an outstanding scientist is interviewed. These are scientists who have not only contributed significantly to the pool of knowledge but have shaped the country during the past sixty years. Thanks to the efforts of these silent heroes, India today can boast of achieving excellence in many areas of science and technology.

The programme showcases the life and work of each individual thus inspiring the viewers, especially young and budding scientists, to walk the path of excellence. Till date more than 100 interviews have been screened on RSTV including eminent scientists like Prof. C.N.R. Rao, Prof. Yash Pal, Prof. Jayant Nar-likar, Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Prof. Indira Nath, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Er D. Radhakrishnan, Dr. P.S. Ahuja, Dr. Girish Sahni, etc.

Moments of Eureka: Life and Work of Selected Indian ScientistsBy 2015-16, CSIR-NISCAIR in collaboration with Rajya Sabha TV and Vigyan Prasar (DST) could interview more than 100 eminent Indian scientists for Eureka weekly programme.

CSIR-NISCAIR, Rajya Sabha TV, and Vigyan Prasar also decided to bring out volume one of the two-

volume book Moments of Eureka based on the tran-scribed and edited interviews of the first 52 scientists. The book contains the life and work of scientists such as Prof. C.N.R. Rao, Prof. Yash Pal, Prof. Jayant Narlikar, Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, Prof. Indira Nath, Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Er D. Radhakrishnan, Dr. P.S. Ahuja, Dr. Girish Sahni, etc.

The next volume of the Moments of Eureka will contain interviews of 52 more scientists interviewed during Eureka programme.

Panel Discussion on “Scientific Temper: A Pre-requisite for Knowledge Based Society”Nobel Laureate Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, President, Royal Society, London visited India in the month of January 2016. Taking advantage of the occasion, CSIR-NISCAIR, Rajya Sabha TV and Vigyan Prasar organized a Panel Discussion on “Scientific Temper: A Pre-requisite for Knowledge Based Society” on 10 January 2016 at Vigyan Bhawan. The panel discussion was inaugurated by Shri Hamid Ansari, Hon’ble Vice President of India. Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Dr Anil Kakodkar, Dr Raghavendra Gadagkar and Dr. Indira Nath were the panelists on the occasion.

Video Programmes• Water Technologies of CSIR: CSIR-NISCAIR produced a small video programme on water-related technologies of CSIR. These technologies have been developed by CSIR Laboratories like CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur, CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneshwar, CSIR-NCL, Pune, CSIR-CGCRI, Kolkata,

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CSIR-CLRI, Chennai CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad, etc. These technologies include simple filtration and ultra-filtration techniques, Membrane for Reverse Osmosis, Phytorid, etc.• Role of CSIR in Chennai Flood Relief: CSIR, through its laboratory CSIR-CLRI, Chennai contributed a lot to relief work during the 1995 Chennai floods. CSIR-CLRI, Chennai distributed domestic filtration units to about 1000 households in flood-hit areas, installed ultra-filtration units in urban and rural areas, and Neer-Zar at many places and also distributed food packs prepared by CSIR-CFTRI, Mysore. CSIR-

NISCAIR recorded the relief work carried out by CSIR and made a ten-minute video programme.

Journal of Scientific TemperPubl i shed vo lume 2 ( 3 & 4 ) , V o l u m e 3 (1&2), and Volume 3 (3&4) of Journal of Scientific Temper.