Introduction
Nowadays writing scientific papers is not so easy even if one gets good results of new investigations. Simple expressions of the research findings will not get qualified for publications in cited journals and journals of high impact factors. Some styles, decorations in systematic ways and special arts are required to publish in such journals.
These ideas suddenly intrigued my mind when I tried to submit a simple general article to e-pao net. It was nothing but for giving a suitable title to this article. For many days I couldn't sleep properly just because of this title.
One night, when I tried to sleep by reading through a newspaper, I found a big advertisement on the last page of the same newspaper. It was a big SSSSS. I suddenly jumped out of my bed, picked-up my pen and paper and started sketching the full forms of the five S. It stands just right for "Some Stories of Science Seminars and Symposiums".
Well, I have participated in some of the national and international seminars and symposiums held on chemical sciences and related fields. To be very frank, I found some of them very boring.
For example, Science Congress which used to be held every year and seems to be the best meeting for all the national level scientists of India was the most boring one to me. The scientific sessions were always noisy and stupid arguments always ended up many sessions.
I still remember a national symposium on recent trends in chemistry held in Agra (2003). The symposium inaugurates in English and ended up in Hindi. It was a nice seminar but not in terms of science but for the purpose of sight seeing.
Many of the participants including me were busy in sight seeing activities like visiting the Taj Mahal and some historical monuments. Similarly in New Delhi during the end of 2004 (26-31 Jan), an international conference organized jointly by the IUPAC (International Union of pure and Applied Chemistry) and Delhi University was held in the
hotel Le Meridian.
It was a big meeting with huge number of participants from India and abroad. During the conference some participants and myself were busier in the republic day parade and retreat shows. The only thing I remember was the last grand bouquet dinner (31st Jan) in the Taj hotel with lots of good stuffs like vodka and others, which are not
easily or legally available in Manipur.
Well, that was long back.
Recently I have participated in a symposium held in Washington D.C. organized by the American Chemical Society, USA (the biggest scientific organization with huge number of members and supporters). The symposium was really a unique one and it has many differences from the earlier ones that I have participated.
The weeklong seminar was too short for I and for many younger chemists interested in new research and developments. In fact, one will never get bore in any of those seminar halls where there were many extra-co curricular activities in addition to the scientific sessions.
Many science games like robotics, entertainments like piano chemical mosaics, expositions etc. in several halls of the Washington Convention Center drew the attention of many participants. The internet facilities for almost all the participants, the live TV shows of the different scientific discussions were additional features for helping the participants during the leisure time.
The well dressed volunteers' mostly American ladies with their glamorous looks and politeness refreshing the minds of many participants was also additional features making the seminar a successful one.
They were always ready to help the participants to answer many queries regarding venue, time etc for the various technical sessions, poster sessions etc.
Here in this E-Pao Education Channel, I am giving a short commentary on some important scientific sessions and events.
It will be highlighted in SSSSS: Part-II.
I hope it may be helpful to some extent for many young scientists interested in participation of science seminars and conferences.
| Read Part I | Part II |
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