New Delhi. 28 February 2022. DRDO celebrated National Science Day 2022 with the wide participation of scientists & staff. On this occasion, a special function was organised by Defence Science Forum at DRDO Bhawan. Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary Ministry of Earth Science was the Chief Guest of the event. The function was presided over by Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO.

In his keynote address, Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary Ministry of Earth Science stressed the need for integration of science & technology for the exploration of ocean resources for ocean research. Talking about the first manned ocean mission, he highlighted that the aim of the mission is to dive deep into the ocean up to 5000 meters under the Samudrayaan project. He said that the cutting-edge technology will help deep-ocean exploration, clean energy and the blue economy.

Secretary DD R&D and Chairman DRDO in his address congratulated the scientific community for its ongoing quest to achieve excellence and self-reliance. He emphasised that scientific temperament, humanism and the spirit of inquiry are the principles with which we design to equip our armed forces with indigenous products and technologies. In line with the theme of National Science Day, “Integrated approach in science and technology for a sustainable future”, DRDO shall always provide world-class S&T solutions for the defence of the nation and achieve the mission of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Twenty Nine research papers were received from various DRDO labs/establishments, out of which three research papers were selected & presented at the event as DRDO Science Day Oration. Defence Science Spectrum, a compilation of all the scientific papers received from labs, was also released by dignitaries on the occasion.

On this occasion, Monograph titled ‘Introduction to Explosive Reactive Armour’ authored by Harpal Singh Yadav former Sc-G from HEMRL, DRDO was released. The monograph describes the basic functioning of Explosive Reactive Armour(ERA) and the fundamentals of explosion dynamics and shock waves which are relevant and necessary to understand the basic mechanism of ERA.

National Science Day is celebrated each year on 28 February to commemorate the discovery of the “Raman Effect” in 1928 by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, which led to the Nobel Prize being awarded to him in the year 1930. The purpose of celebrating this day is to enhance scientific temper, popularization of science and encourage innovative activities by infusing scientific temperament in the masses and to create a positive scientific research culture.

Defence Science Forum is a platform of DRDO where scientists of various disciplines interact to foster fellowship, exchange of ideas with experts of different disciplines and debate the feasibility of interdisciplinary projects where expert opinions are required.