Nitte faculty professor Smitha Hegde invited to attend Nobel Prize Series, India-2018 event at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi

Prof. Smitha Hegde was invited by The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology to attend the Nobel Prize Series lecture held on February 5, 2018 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. “Education and the value of teachers” was the broad theme for this program. The event was presided by the Hon’ble President of India. This program is perhaps the first of its kind, on this scale, anywhere in the world, according to the Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The President of India being a great advocate for the reformation of higher education system to meet the challenges for 21st century learning and innovation skills and his interest and overview in this program provided the necessary impetus for initiation of a change in higher education in India. Six Nobel Laureates participated in this program. Most discussions revolved around Better Education: Anvil for shaping future science, technology and innovation.

The Director of the Nitte Center for Science Education and Research, Prof. Indrani Karunasagar said that Dr. Smitha Hegde is recognised as a popular science communicator and has recently been awarded a project by the Department of Science and Technology & MHRD, Govt. of India to jointly conduct a workshop with IISER, Pune from 14th to 16th February, 2018 for teachers of Undergraduate & Postgraduate Science and Maths courses on “Research based pedagogic tools”. Knowledge partners for the Workshop that will be held in Nitte Education International, Mangalore include the Newton Bhabha Foundation and British Council. The Nitte Centre for Science Education and Research has made a conscious effort towards capacity building of its teaching faculty primarily for the benefit of students’ in addition to quality research. This young institute is becoming an education and research destination with many International and National level scientists seeking collaboration.