In a special ceremony held at the Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF) in New Delhi today, 30 students selected from across the country were felicitated to represent India at the highly-acclaimed Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) to be held this year in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA from 10-15 May, 2015 – as Team India.
After Intel ISEF, as part of a joint initiative from Department of Science & Technology (DST), Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF) & Intel, Team India will spend an additional week in USA to gain more exposure and engage in scientific exchanges with the rich scientific community in USA. In this additional week, students will travel to Washington DC for site-visits to science museums, universities, science labs; meet & interact with scientists, professors in their related fields and get an exposure to hands-on activities in labs and museums. 
Seventeen of these young innovators from India will compete with teams from across the world at Intel ISEF 2015, and will showcase 12 cutting edge ideas to compete for USD 4 million in awards, scholarships and honors such as a chance to be present at the Nobel Laureate ceremony or to have a minor planet named after them (courtesy MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory). The shortlisted students from India are the winners of the Initiative for Research and Innovation in Science (IRIS), a research-based national science fair, held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in November 2014. The winners were selected by an eminent panel of scientists from the Scientific Review Committee, based on a rigorous process judging innovation and originality.
In addition, thirteen students representing the four IRIS-affiliated school level science fairs will participate at the Intel ISEF 2015 on the public viewing day – courtesy an initiative by the DST and Indo US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).
The mega flag off event was presided by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India with Shri. Y. S. Chowdary, Hon’ble Minister of State, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Government of India and the US Ambassador to India, Mr. Richard Verma as Guests of Honor in the presence of Dr. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, Debjani Ghosh, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group and Managing Director, South Asia, Intel, Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director, Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and Dr. B.P.Singh, National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
At the ceremony, the winners of the IRIS 2014, now the Team India 2015 were congratulated and given an opportunity to meet with eminent scientists, professors and other distinguished guests and to showcase their respective projects.
There was a flag presentation and Team India group photo with special guests. The Team India also met former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on April 27th in New Delhi.
“Intel ISEF and IRIS seek to encourage the vibrant pool of creativity and invention that exists in this country and the 12 cutting-edge ideas from Team India will showcase this scientific talent to the world. We wish all of the participants from India a successful ISEF, and look forward to the results from Pittsburgh, also to the contribution they will make to society throughout their lives”, said Debjani Ghosh, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group and Managing Director, Intel South Asia.
“In continuation with Intel’s history of innovation, Intel collaborated with DST to launch the Innovate for Digital India Challenge earlier this week to champion new solutions to make technology more effective in India as a channel to drive real ground-up development”, she added.
Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Rajiv Sharma, Executive Director, Indo-US Science & Technology Forum (IUSSTF), said, “Intel ISEF helps bring together young innovators who tackle a variety of everyday problems and come out with relevant, practical and innovative solutions. This is a great achievement in the backdrop of a growing global economy where curiosity, critical thinking and a strong foundation in math and science are necessary for their future success. I wish these young students the very best and look forward to their success in the global event.”
