Malayalam Science Conference 2026 Begins in Kochi

The Malayalam Science Conference 2026, aimed at taking new knowledge, discoveries and developments in science and technology to the public through Malayalam, commenced in Kochi today. The two-day conference is being jointly organised on September 25 and 26 by the ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Kochi, Swadeshi Science Movement–Kerala (SSM-K), and  Bharatiya Bhasha Samit, Ministry of Education, Government of India

The conference is being held on the theme “Taking Research Knowledge to Society”, with the objective of making scientific and technological developments more accessible to the general public and strengthening science communication through the mother tongue.

Sri Jayan N., Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO, inaugurated the conference. In his inaugural address, he highlighted the importance of such conferences in creating scientific awareness and promoting scientific thinking among the younger generation. He said that it was important to nurture curiosity about science and encourage young people to explore new knowledge. As India continues to advance in areas including space science and technology, he emphasised the need for the younger generation to understand the role of science in shaping the country's future. He also noted that communicating scientific knowledge in Malayalam can make science simpler and more accessible to people.

The Conference will feature research paper presentations, expert lectures and discussions on various scientific subjects. The sessions provided a platform for researchers and science communicators to present scientific knowledge in Malayalam in a simple and accessible manner and discuss new approaches to strengthening science communication through regional languages.

The technical sessions covered a wide range of scientific disciplines, including Biotechnology; Health and Bioenergetics; Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity; Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; and Food Security and Food Technology.

Researchers, teachers, students, science communicators, science writers and representatives from different sectors are participating in the conference. Experts and invited speakers from various academic and research institutions are delivering talks on diverse scientific topics. Around 120 participants are attending the two-day programme.

Dr George Ninan, Director, ICAR-CIFT, and President, Society of Fisheries Technologists (SOFTI), presided over the inaugural session. Shri P. A. Vivekananda Pai, Secretary General, Vijnana Bharati; Dr V. Sivakumar, President, Swadeshi Science Movement–Kerala; and the programme convenors, Dr Nikita Gopal, Head, Extension, Information and Statistics Division, ICAR-CIFT, and Dr Remya S., Senior Scientist, Fish Processing Division, ICAR-CIFT, also addressed the inaugural session.

Dr N. Jayan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO, addressing the inaugural session. Seen on the dais are Dr Nikita Gopal, Head, Extension, Information and Statistics Division, ICAR-CIFT, and Programme Convenor; Shri P. A. Vivekananda Pai, Secretary General, Vijnana Bharati; Dr George Ninan, Director, ICAR-CIFT, and President, Society of Fisheries Technologists (SOFTI); Dr V. Sivakumar, President, Swadeshi Science Movement–Kerala; and Dr Remya S., Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIFT, and Programme Convenor.