ABOUT US :
The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology
and Environment (KSCSTE) was constituted in November 2002
as an autonomous body to encourage and promote Science and
Technology related activities in the Kerala State by restructuring
the erstwhile State Committee for Science, Technology and
Environment (STEC) established in 1972 in concurrence with
the Science Policy of Government of India.
The apex body of KSCSTE is the State Council with Chief Minister
of Kerala as the President. The chief executive officer of
the Council is Executive Vice President (EVP).
The Main functions of the State Council are to:
The decisions of the State Council and
Executive Committee are implemented by the Council Headquarters
(CHQ) based in Thiruvananthapuram. The functions of CHQ are
carried out under the overall guidance of Executive Vice President
who is also the ex-officio Principal Secretary of Science
&Technology Department (S&TD). The executive functions
are administered by the Member Secretary. The Science and
Technology programmes are managed by the Principal Scientific
Officers, Scientific Officers and other staff members, both
technical as well as administrative.
There are six R&D centres under the umbrella of the Council
which does research work in specific identified domains. The
Centre for
Earth Science Studies (CESS) is established to promote
modern scientific and technological research and development
studies in earth sciences. CESS pursues multidisciplinary
research in problems related to land, sea and atmosphere,
Research & Development activities in basic and applied
fields, user training and academic programs, consultancy and
Science popularization. The Centre for Water Resources Development
and Management (CWRDM) was established by recognizing the
need for catering to the R&D needs in the field of water
management. The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is
established to undertake research in areas like forestry,
biodiversity etc., that are vital to the development of the
Kerala State. National Transportation Planning and Research
Centre (NATPAC) is undertaking research and consultancy works
in the fields of traffic engineering and transportation planning,
highway engineering, public transport system, inland water
transport, tourism planning, rural roads, environmental impact
assessment and transport energy. Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology
(RGCB) is established exclusively for pursuing research in
Biotechnology. The Center has a Regional Facility for Genetic
Fingerprinting, which provides DNA analysis services for forensic
& criminal investigations, paternity disputes, identification
of wildlife remains, authentication of plants and seeds besides
a battery of molecular diagnostics for genetic and infectious
diseases. Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI)
is established with the vision of Conservation and sustainable
utilization of the plant biodiversity of India, particularly
of Kerala for the well being of her people.
HISTORY :
The idea of utilizing science & technology
with a wider reach to achieve faster development in the country
necessitated the establishment of S&T institutions at
the State level. Kerala is the first State in the country
which created a State Committee on Science & Technology
headed by a scientist/technologist, as Chairman.
The Separate Department for Science Technology and Environment
was created in 1987. A technical secretariat was also established.
With the creation of the department and technical secretariat,
the State Committee on Science Technology and Environment
(STEC) could expand its activities in diverse fields and impart
S&T inputs to line departments for solving their problems.
Over the years, the R&D centers under STEC umbrella have
built up an impressive record of achievements to create a
suitable research environment in Kerala.
The Advancement in Science and Technology coupled with liberalization
of the economy and progressive globalization has brought in
new challenger to the Science & Technology sector. To
cope with the emerging scenario, the Government of Kerala
took a timely and pro-active step to replacing State Committee
on Science Technology and Environment by Kerala State Council
for Science Technology & Environment. The council came
in to existence on 21st November 2002 as a registered society
under the Travancore - Cochin Literary scientific and Charitable
Societies Registration Act 1955. The R&D Institutes namely
Center for Earth Science Studies, Rajiv Gandhi Center for
Biotechnology, Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute,
Center for Water Resource Development and Management, National
Transport Planning and Research Center and Kerala Forest Research
Institute were amalgamated fully with KSCSTE for their integrated
development.
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Former
Chairmen / EVP's
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Former
Member Secretaries
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State
Council & Executive Committe Meetings
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