Roundtable Summit of Scientific Advisors of G-20 countries in Ramnagar begins today
By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun: A roundtable summit of Chief Scientific Advisors from G-20 countries will be held in Ramnagar from 28 to 30 March. This summit will help build synergy among various sectors and as a scientific catalytic tool to mull on solutions to some of the major issues faced by the world. It is for the first time that a meeting at such a level is being hosted in Uttarakhand. According to Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, the Chief Science Advisers are uniquely positioned in the overall governance framework to drive the policy choices by providing evidence-driven science advice. He adds that the overarching and cross-cutting nature of the Science Advice Mechanism will enable everyone concerned to build synergy among various sectors, and as a catalytic tool to achieve solutions to some of the complex, multidimensional and transdisciplinary issues. With this understanding and motivation, G20-CSAR has been conceptualised as an initiative under India’s G20 Presidency to drive the agenda for Inclusive Global Science Advice.
According to Dr (Ms) Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, the following agendas will be discussed during the forthcoming meet:
- To discuss Opportunities in One Health, for better disease control and pandemic preparedness.
- To mull on Synergising Global Efforts to Expand the Access to Scholarly Scientific Knowledge.
- To mull on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Science & Technology.
- To work out an Institutional Mechanism for Inclusive, Continuous and Action-Oriented Global S&T Policy Dialogue.
According to Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Joint Secretary, G20 Secretariat, “Science is a cross-cutting subject at the all 13 engagements under the sherpa track. CSAR is a unique initiative happening for the first time. Priorities identified are universal in nature and fall under the rubric of India’s G20 theme which is One World One Family One Future. Hence, it is pertinent that these issues are also deliberated upon at the Chief Science Advisers Roundtable.” He emphasised that the outcomes of the discussion will be shared with the leaders of the G20 countries and will find reflection in 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit.
It is pertinent to point out here that G20-CSAR is a government-to-government level initiative conceptualised under India’s G20-Presidency. The motivation of this initiative is to bring together the Chief Science Advisers and their equivalents of G20 member countries, as well as the invited countries, to deliberate upon and develop collaborative frameworks for some of the common pressing global science and technology (S&T) policy issues. This initiative will also help in establishing an effective and coherent global science advice mechanism.
By hosting this roundtable summit, Uttarakhand too gets an opportunity to showcase its products, its hospitality and unique diversity of environment that it has.
U’khand looking forward to host G-20 Summit: Garbyal
By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 25 Mar: Speaking to Garhwal Post, District Magistrate, Nainital, Dhiraj Singh Garbyal shared that that the preparations for the upcoming G-20 Summit of Principal Scientific Advisors in Ramnagar have been completed. He added that Uttarakhand, in general, and the District Administration of Nainital district are looking forward to host this three day summit in Ramnagar.
Garbyal stated that several initiatives to repair the roads and other infrastructure facilities have been taken in view of the Summit. The delegates will be put up at the Hotel Taj in Ramnagar where they will be hosted by the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India for dinner. The summit will be held on 29 March, and this will be followed by around 40 minutes of cultural programmes and a Gala Dinner hosted by the state government. On the morning of 30 March, the delegates will be taken on a wildlife tour to Corbett National Park, bringing the summit to a conclusion.
