Pune: Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science’s (MACS) Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) had organised a science exhibition on the public outreach day as the precursor to the third India International Science Festival (IISF) which was held in IIT, Madras.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak who asked the scientists to take ahead the cause of popularisation of science and reaching out to the society. “Science research institutes must share their expertise with school children to nurture their curiosity. A scientist must promote science and its inventions to the society on large scale by such exhibitions,” said Tilak.

Students of Huzurpaga High School, Boys High School Perugate, Chandrakant Darode School and Ramanbaug High School were invited to observe the exhibition. The expo included exhibits of medicinal plants, fossils, diatoms, lichens, zebrafish, hydra, etc. 

Director of ARI Kishore Paknikar said, “This is a precursor event for the IISF which was held in IIT Madras from October 13 to 16. Six ARI young scientists working on bioenergy, crop hybridisation, zebrafish, plant diversity and viruses will be participating in the fest.” “The series of IISF is an integral part of India’s long-term vision in developing and widening scientific temper in India and abroad,” added Paknikar.