International Day of Light in 2024



1. The Zaheer Science Foundation will celebrate the International Day of Light in 2024 with a seminar headlined by Professor Zahid H. Khan, who will deliver a talk on Reflection on Light and Its Significance in Our Lives. Professor Khan will traverse the journey of light through history and its profound impact on modern life, highlighting its applications across various sectors including education, healthcare, and industry. This seminar will support the 2024 IDL theme of Light in Our Lives which is perfectly aligned with the goals of the Zaheer Science Foundation. This event continues the ongoing support of the foundation for the International Day of Light and the overall goals of the foundation to encourage science diplomacy and public engagement.
Contact: Dr. Tabassum Jamal (Zaheer Science Foundation)
Date: 16 May 2024
Location: New Delhi, India
2. Zaheer Science Foundation in New Delhi will host a special exhibition of the evocative photography of Abu Sufiyan, aiming to explore the theme, Light in Our Lives and to focus on light's profound influence on India's cultural fabric. The exhibition will feature thematic sections such as Heritage Illuminated, Cultural Luminance, and Artistic Radiance, each narrating the story of light's role in daily life, festivals, art, and architectural wonders of India. Aligning with UNESCO's educational goals, the exhibition will include interactive educational panels, workshops, and guided tours to deepen the understanding of light in science, culture, and art. The exhibition will be promoted as a platform for cultural exchange, highlighting the significance of light in Indian heritage and encouraging dialogue on its preservation. A visitor's journey through the exhibition will be an immersive experience, with strategically designed lighting that complements the photography and evokes the ambience of the scenes depicted. The exhibition will be designed with sustainability in mind, ensuring that it leaves a lasting legacy that contributes to the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage. This exhibition will not only be a tribute to the beauty of light in India's past and present but also a reminder of the need for its conservation for future generations.
Contact: Abu Sufiyan
Date: 16 May 2024
Location: New Delhi, India
Launch of Monthly Newsletter- Science & Society in Media
Launch of Monthly Newsletter by Zaheer Science Foundation on “Science & Society in Media” as part of the IDL 2023 Celebrations.

Zaheer Science Foundation (ZSF) is a non-profit organization, which was established in 1970 as a Think Tank to help in Nation Building with the promotion of scientific research and educational reform. The Foundation has been organizing international workshops, scientists’ conclaves and training programmes in collaboration with UNESCO on themes related to Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Science diplomacy and training programmes for working professionals and students. Recently ZSF has taken the initiative to launch a monthly newsletter on Science & Society in Media. In its publications, ZSF will be highlighting a spectrum of S&T information to the common man.
It is to mention here that India's scientific institutions and laboratories have played a stellar role in independent India's scientific progress. S&T's achievements are aligned with social upliftment. Various mass media play a vital role to disseminate S&T knowledge to different sections of society. This process inculcates scientific temper among the general public. Both at institutional and individual levels, various endeavours have been done so far. The “Science & Society in Media” Newsletter is an initiative towards this noble cause.

Date of the Event: 17th July, 2023
Venue: Zaheer Science Foundation, 4, Udyan Marg, New Delhi-110001
PRESS RELEASE: JIGYASA (A Student-Scientist connect programme as Scientific Social Responsibility)
PRESS RELEASE
Zaheer Science Foundation (ZSF) is organizing JIGYASA (Program for promoting scientific temper through “Student-Scientist Connect’) in collaboration with CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad (CSIR-IICT) * CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai (CSIR-CLRI) * CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi (CSIR-IGIB), New Delhi on 22nd August, 2023 (10:30 - 17:30) at ZSF, 4, Udyan Marg, New Delhi-110001.
ZSF is a non-profit organization, established in 1970 as a “Think Tank”. The Foundation is involved in the promotion of scientific research and communication, science technology innovation policy advocacy and analysis, and science for small nations and south-south cooperation etc. and has been organizing seminars and conferences at national and international level promoting scientific temperament for nation building and empowerment through science diplomacy.
JIGYASA is an initiative taken during the “Platinum Jubilee Year of CSIR” as part of Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR), which came as an inspiration by our Honorable Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi is a visionary who sees “Young India” as an “Innovation Engine” of the world. The 38 laboratories of CSIR representing the future innovation industrial engine of India with its modern science discoveries and technological development are organizing JIGYASA 2.0 along with Atal Innovation Mission, (AIM) NITI Aayog; who have made joint efforts to popularize science, technology, and innovation to inculcate scientific temper amongst school students across the country through various initiatives like students-Nobel laureate interactions, residential science program, lab-specific activities, science and Math club, students apprentice program, science exhibitions, state-level science competitions, physical lab visits, popular science lecture series, important awareness days, visits of scientists to schools, scientists as teacher and teachers as scientists etc.
ZSF as an outreach program is conducting the above JIGYASA 2.0 for the Kendriya Vidyalaya and other public schools from NCR region in collaboration with CSIR-IICT, CSIR-CLRI and CSIR-IGIB (All these 3 labs are premier research institutes of CSIR known for their outstanding contributions in innovative S&T development for science and societal needs). Students from class IX- XII along with the teachers of schools attended and participated in this program.
- The welcome Address was delivered by Dr. Tabassum Jamal, Chairperson ZSF who has been passionately organizing this first of its event by ZFS in New Delhi and truly connecting science and scientists to students and disseminating the innovations.
- Dr. Mrs. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Head CSIR-HRDG & Coordinator CSIR-JIGYASA Programme, was the Chief Guest and inspired the students with her exemplary talk, taking the students to the world of science.
- Dr. K J Sreeram, Director CSIR-CLRI also joined the program and enthused the students with his charisma and commendable discussions giving them the facets into the journey of scientist from a school student to scientist and the director of CSIR-CLRI.
- Dr. D. Shailaja Donempudi, Vice-Chairperson, ZSF and Chief Scientist & Chair, BDRM, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad has motivated the students and explained the gap between the science grads requirement for the development of “New India” to enhance the global innovation index on the world map and she encouraged them to fill the gap by taking up science as a career; emphasizing the young Indian innovation and critical thinking skills.
- Dr. M. Rais, Secretary, ZSF, Dr. Manish Mohan Gore, Principal Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR, enlightened the students with their experience on their journey to science and also explained the need of popularizing science & scientific temper amongst students through more interactive mode.
Tabassum Jamal, Coordinator
To - Chief Bureau, Amar Ujala, New Delhi
JIGYASA (A Student-Scientist connect programme as Scientific Social Responsibility) on 22 Aug 2023
Amar Ujala Newspaper Clip: JIGYASA (A Student-Scientist connect programme as Scientific Social Responsibility)

