Hyderabad :
An eight-day Excellence on Tour, an initiative by the German Government involving a variety of programmes to showcase Indo-German collaboration in science and technology, was flagged off here today.
The event is being organised by the German House for Research and Innovation, New Delhi and supported by the Andhra Pradesh Government.
The event will feature exhibitions, workshops, lectures, symposiums and cultural events. The Indo-German Science Slam will be one of the special attractions, witnessing researchers present their topic of interest in ten minutes.
The German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner, and AP Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, inaugurated the event at Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology.
Interactive sessions with students and academicians during the event will cover topics such as molecular biology, non-invasive medical diagnostics, engineering sciences, geophysical research, climate change and astronomy.
The opening day also brings to India the renowned Guntur Bennung, popularly known as Clown Shiven, who has been travelling worldwide as a clown for 33 years.
The German Government has set up the German House for Research and Innovation in five countries, including Sao Paulo (Brazil), Moscow (Russua), New York, Tokyo and more recently in New Delhi. The New Delhi centre has 14 institutions from science and industry as members. Flagging off the event, Michael Steiner said although Indo-German collaboration was increasing in different fields, “we do not know enough about each other.” There was still a “knowledge gap”, he said, adding that such events would help bridge this gap. Narasimhan said technology by its very nature was penetrating and has gone far ahead than its alter ego, science. “We have become addicted to products of technology to entertain us and engross us. As a result the ‘human’ in us is diminished,” he pointed out.
The event will move on later this year to two more Indian cities—Ahmedabad and Kolkata.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by the Hindu Bureau – amitmirta@thehindu.co.in / Hyderabad, April 28th, 2013