National Science Day is observed every year to memorialise the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by CV Raman in 1928. In 1930, he also received a Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of the scattering of light, which was named the ‘Raman Effect’.
‘Raman Effect’ states that when the light travels through the transparent object some of it disperses and the dispersed light changes its wavelength and amplitude.
The theme of this year’s National Science Day is ‘Future of STI: Impact on Educational skills and work’. The first National Science Day was celebrated in 1987. Then, the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) requested the Indian government to observe February 28 as the National Science Day.
On this day every year, school children and college goers also participate with great enthusiasm. Many science and engineering colleges organise an exhibition or a debate competition on the importance and use of science and technology in our daily life.
The day’s celebrations aim to spread awareness and direct positive energy toward scientists, students, and others who are working in the field of science and technology.
Raman was born on November 7, 1888, in a Brahmin family. Since childhood, he had a keen interest in science. He completed his B.Sc in 1904 and M.Sc in 1907 from Madras University and won medals in science and English.
Raman was the first Asian and first non-white person to receive a Nobel Prize in science. He also received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913 and the highest civilian award the Bharat Ratna in 1957. He was the president of the 16th session of the Indian National Congress in 1929. He died on November 21, 1970
