Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar to inaugurate three-day Swadeshi Science Congress at CUK

Periya: Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will inaugurate the 32nd Swadeshi Science Congress (SSC) and the National Seminar on Transformative Science and Technology Education for Viksit Bharat at the Central University of Kerala (CUK), Periya, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Jointly organised by the Swadeshi Science Movement-Kerala (SSM-K), the Swadeshi Science Congress brings together 300 scientists, academicians, researchers and students from across the country to deliberate on science that is socially rooted and nationally relevant.

As part of its outreach efforts, the Science Congress will also host interactive sessions for school students and teachers, offering them direct engagement with leading scientists to foster curiosity and early interest in scientific inquiry.

The inaugural session will be held at 10 am at the Library Hall, with the Governor formally inaugurating the event.

Memorial lectures and key addresses

The science congress will feature the C. V. Raman Memorial Lecture by Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), and the Parameshwarji Memorial Lecture by Prof. Mohanan Kunnummal, Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Health Sciences and the University of Kerala.

A special address on “Integrating Indian Knowledge Systems with Academic and Research Curriculum” will be delivered by Prof. U. Krishnakumar, Dean and Director, Amrita School of Arts and Sciences. The occasion will also see the conferment of the Swadeshi Sastra Puraskaram, recognising notable contributions to science.

Broad disciplinary engagement

The Swadeshi Science Congress will host technical sessions across a wide range of disciplines, including physical, chemical, biological and environmental sciences; agriculture, horticulture and veterinary sciences; health sciences; space science; computational and mathematical sciences; yoga; social sciences; and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).

The science congress places strong emphasis on student participation and emerging researchers, with opportunities for oral and poster presentations. Young Scientist Awards, Best Paper Awards and Project Awards will recognise outstanding scholarly and multidisciplinary work, including projects developed by CUK faculty.

Special attention is being given to young researchers and scientific outreach. The Yuva Sastra Puraskar will be awarded for the best paper in each technical session, along with 20 awards for exceptional oral and poster presentations.

The congress is expected to generate outcomes relevant to science education policy, interdisciplinary research collaboration and the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems into mainstream curricula. The event will conclude on January 9, 2026, with the valedictory address by Prof. Ashok S. Alur, Vice-Chancellor, Kodagu University.