For the first time, India is hosting BRICS Young Scientists Conclave in Bengaluru from September 26-30.

A group of about 50 young scientists and researchers from BRICS countries will be meeting at the five-day event to be hosted by the Department of Science & Technology under the BRICS framework.

The meet, to be organized by the National Institute of Advanced Studies, would provide a platform for engaging, connecting and networking among young scientists to hold discussions and find solutions to some of the common challenges and problems facing BRICS countries.

The participants are drawn from science, engineering and allied disciplines.

The focus of the conclave would be on three thematic topics – Computational Intelligence, Energy Solutions and Affordable Healthcare.

The conclave assumes importance as it is taking place during India&’s chairmanship of BRICS in 2016 under a focal theme of ‘Building, Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions’.

The event will be inaugurated by K Kasturirangan, former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and former Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 

The BRICS Young Scientist Forum (BRICS-YSF), under which the conclave is being organised, was initiated at the 2nd BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting at Brasilia in March 2015. The respective Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ministries of BRICS countries are the lead coordinating organisations for this forum on co-investment and co-ownership principles.

The conclave aims at building a BRICS Innovation Corps – who individually or collectively have specialized capability to work on their novel scientific ideas and technological solutions which transform and accelerate change through better quality of life and higher incomes for citizen of this region. It will pave way for creation of strong generation of S&T leadership that can accelerate change collectively.

Some of the lead speakers in the conclave, among others from India and abroad, include K Kasturirangan, Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST, K Vijay Raghavan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, VK Saraswat, Member, NITI Ayog, and Baldev Raj, Director, NIAS.

Some of the topics to be covered by the Conclave include Interdisciplinary Science for Society and Humanity, A Scientific Identity for BRICS, Traditional Science and Indigenous Knowledge and Science, Technology and Social Equity. A session on ‘Talent Hunt’ is also being organised under which about 15 ideas will be presented on three identified themes of the conclave