INCOIS Hosts Curtain Raiser for IISF-2025, Showcasing “Vignan Se Samruddhi-For Aathmanirbhar Bharat”
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) organized a curtain raiser event today at 1500 hrs to mark the lead-up to the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025. The event aimed to amplify awareness about IISF-2025 and highlight how cutting-edge research and development in ocean sciences can be translated into impactful services for society—especially in the context of climate change and India’s expanding Blue Economy.
Dr. T. M. Balakrishnan Nair, Director of INCOIS, welcomed the dignitaries and participants. In his address, Dr. Nair emphasized that the theme of IISF-2025, “Vigyan Se Samriddhi: Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, resonates deeply with INCOIS’s mission to leverage science and technology for a self-reliant, prosperous, and sustainable India. He underscored the importance of INCOIS’s R&D initiatives—ranging from ocean weather prediction and climate projections to disaster preparedness—in shaping the nation’s sustainable development agenda.
The event was graced by Chief Guest Prof. Yuichiro Tanioka, Chair of the Joint Tsunami Commission, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, and Emeritus Professor at Hokkaido University, Japan. Prof. Tanioka lauded India’s resurgence as a global leader in science and technology, noting the rapid establishment of the Indian Tsunami Warning Centre as a prime example of science being effectively translated into societal service. He extended his best wishes for the success of IISF-2025.
Dr. Surayachandra Rao, Director of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and Chief Organizer of IISF-2025, shared an overview of the major activities planned for the festival. Dr. Jagvir Singh, Advisor at the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Chief Coordinator of IISF-2025, and Shri. Naresh Chafekar, Member, Governing Council, Vignan Bharati also addressed the gathering.
The IISF-2025 curtain raiser programme was organized as a special session in the ongoing International Tsunami Symposium 2025, which is being held at INCOIS during 12-14 November 2025. Several researchers, students and scientific staff of INCOIS along with the participants of the ITS-2025 attended the curtain raiser programme.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Francis P. A., Head of the Ocean Modeling and Data Assimilation Division at INCOIS, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.
IISF-2025 promises to be a landmark celebration of scientific innovation, public engagement, and national progress.
