India’s best young scientists felicitated at Intel IRIS 2009

In its fourth consecutive year, the thre-day IRIS (Initiative for Research & Innovation in Science) was held in Ahmedabad from 26 to 28 Novemer 2009.

This platform allowed students to display their scientific aptitude, discover unique scientific solutions to everyday problems and win public recognition and awards at national and international levels.

The national winners of IRIS 2009 will represent India in the Intel International Science and Engineering fair (ISEF), the world's largest pre-college science competition to be held in US in 2010.

This three-day science fair, which promotes innovation with students in science and technology, had 82 projects vying for the coveted awards from the 1100 entries that the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) of IRIS received from schools across India.

The three categories of awards this year at IRIS were Special Awards, Best of Category Awards and National Fair Awards. (See: Intel announces IRIS 2009 finalists)

''Intel believes that these young, innovative minds will drive our country in the future," Praveen Vishakantaiah, president, Intel India, said, while commenting on the success of IRIS 2009.

Vishakantaiah added, "IRIS is a unique platform in India to provide stimulation and encouragement to young scientists in the making. Intel is proud to be involved in this exciting educational program.''

Chief guest Ranganath Navalgund, director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, commented, ''I am delighted with the quality of these projects; they show that these young innovative minds have the ability to drive our country in the future course of time and reach newer heights in the field of science and research.''

IRIS is the collaborative initiative of 'Intel Science Talent Discovery Fair' (ISTDF), the Indian chapter of the world's largest science talent discovery initiative: and Department of Science & Technology (DST) and CII's ''Steer the Big Idea''.

Two categories of participants are eligible for participation this year. The first category involves students in 5th to 8th standard (below13 years) and the second category involves 9th to 12th standard students (below 20 years).