FEBRUARY 28- NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY

FEBRUARY-28- NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY

National Science Day is celebrated in India   on February 28 each year to mark the discovery of the Raman effect   by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Ventata Raman on 28 February 1928. For his discovery, Raman was awarded the  Nobel in Physics in 1930.Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was an Indian physicist whose work was influential in the growth of science in India. He was the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930 for a remarkable discovery. He found that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the light that is deflected changes in wavelength. This phenomenon is now called Raman scattering and is the result of the Raman Effect.While he was a student, he carried out research in optics and acoustics – the two fields of investigation to which he dedicated his entire career.In 1933, Raman became Professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore (1933 - 1948), and later joined Raman Institute of Research at Bangalore (established and endowed by him) as a director. He also founded the Indian Journal of Physics in 1926 and sponsored the establishment of the Indian Academy of Sciences.

In February of 1928, Sir C.V. Raman and his team discovered the molecular diffraction of light. Commemorating the 85{+t}{+h}year of this milestone, IET India pays tribute to the legend who showed us the beauty of the seas and the skies, through the principles of scattering of light.In 1986, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) asked the Government of India to designate February 28 as National Science Day. The event is now celebrated all over the country in schools, colleges, universities and other academic, scientific, technical, medical and research institutions. On the occasion of the first NSD (National Science Day) on 30 May 2000 , the NCSTC announced institution of the National Science Popularization awards for recognizing outstanding efforts in the area of science communication and popularization. Sir C. V. Raman worked at  Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, , Kolkata, West Bengal, India during 1907 to 1933 on various topics of Physics making discovery of the celebrated effect on scattering of light in1928, which bears his name and that brought many accolades including the Nobel Prize in 1930. The American Chemical Society designated the 'Raman Effect' as an International Historic Chemical Landmark in 2013.The focal theme for the year 2009 was "Expanding Horizons of Science".On 28 February 2009; five institutions in the country were presented National Award for Science Communication by the Indian Department of Science and Technology. These awards are presented to recognize the efforts of individuals and government and non-government bodies for the popularization of science in the country.

The focal theme for 2012 National Science Day is “Clean Energy Options and Nuclear Safety”  As the nation will observe National Science Day on February 28, the citizens will see a slew of activities at Science City which has planned a five-day Science Carnival on theme of youth and science. The science day is observed every year to commemorate Dr C V Raman's find of Raman Effect for which he later got Nobel Prize for physics in 1930."The Science Carnival is going to be an event with a series of scientific activities and programs involving school and college students, eminent scientists and faculties of the state and country. We want to provide a real platform for the budding scientists to make their career and profession in science," said a senior Science City official. Officials said that they are expecting nearly 1 lakh students and science enthusiasts to visit Science City during this period.

Prof. John Kurakar