OWOL conclave at CSIR-NIIST concludes after in-depth conversations on live topics

Trivandrum / March 18, 2023

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar. 18: The One Week One Lab (OWOL) programme at CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) here concluded today after extensive deliberations on leveraging the results of scientific and technological research programmes of national R&D institutes in the country for social and economic development.

The first such initiative, OWOL was launched by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to showcase achievements of each of the 37 laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) across the country.

The highlight OWOL at NIIST, a constituent laboratory of CSIR, was the Millet Food Festival and Expo, seeking to promote cultivation, value-addition and consumption of highly nutritious millets, which are fast becoming a major component of global food basket.

Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, inaugurated OWOL on March 18, in the presence of Prof Javed Iqbal, Chairman, CSIR NIIST Research Council, and NIIST Director Dr C Anandharamakrishnan.

“OWOL at CSIR-NIIST has been a big success. On all days, the event saw meaningful discussions focussing on the scientific and technological programmes in the country and effectively leveraging the fruits of R&D projects for creating a positive impact in the society”, said Dr Anandharamakrishnan.

He said the public response to the millet expo was also encouraging, which was planned in the context of  the  United Nations declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, as proposed by India. Around 10,000 people visited the CSIR-NIIST campus at Pappanamcode in the city in six days since the event commenced on March 13.

The event had a series of thematic sessions featuring scientists and project heads from CSIR facilities and other S&T institutions across the country, technocrats, planners, senior officials and industry stakeholders. Key topics covered by the session’s included ayurveda, clean-up technologies, strategic and rare materials and food technologies.

The event drew to a close with an ‘Open Day’ programme that facilitated the public to visit the CSIR-NIIST campus. Thiruvananthapuram District Collector Shri Geromic George inaugurated the Open Day programme and City Police Commissioner Shri Nagaraju Chakilam was the Chief Guest.