Biswanath Chariali: The Biswanath Chariali branch of the Assam Science Society, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Biswanath College, successfully hosted the 69th Annual Technical Session and National Symposium of the Society recently. The theme of the day-long event was “Science and Technology in Sustainable Development.” The inaugural session began with lighting of the lamp by life member Bijoy Goswami, followed by a group song led by Jyotisman Bora. The session was chaired by Dr. Arup Kumar Mishra, President of the Society, and attended by dignitaries including Prof. Ramesh Chandra Deka, Vice-Chancellor of Cotton University; MLA Pramod Borthakur; and General Secretary Mrinal Hazarika. Dr. Chintamoni Sharma, Principal of Biswanath College, delivered the welcome address, while Dr. Pradip Kumar Mahanta outlined the technical sessions. Eminent science writer Khiradhar Baruah was honoured with the Lifetime Award for Popularisation of Science, received on his behalf by Ripunjoy Bordoloi. Keynote speakers included MLA Pramod Borthakur, who spoke on the role of science in human life, and Prof. R.C. Deka, who discussed Catalyst Design for Clean Technology. Dr. D.C. Baruah of Tezpur University delivered an engaging lecture on Assam’s energy roadmap. A souvenir and abstract volume edited by Dr. Ratna Kinkar Goswami was also released. The technical session featured 104 paper presentations across five halls, including online contributions from Assam and other states like Karnataka, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. The valedictory session, chaired by Dr. Ranendra Nath Burman, Associate Dean of Biswanath College of Agriculture, saw the announcement of best paper awards to researchers from Tezpur University, Gauhati University, AAU, Pub Kamrup College, and Biswanath College. Speakers praised the Biswanath Chariali branch for its successful organisation and reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to promoting science for public welfare and youth empowerment.
