PROMISING an extraordinary blend of scientific exploration and artistic brilliance, the month-long Global Science Festival Kerala (GSFK) began on January 15. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the festival at the Bio 360 Life Sciences Park on the outskirts of the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, at 6 PM. While addressing the media on January 14, finance minister and chairperson of GSFK, K N Balagopal, emphasized the relevance of this mega event in the background of superstition gaining prominence in the country. "We have to spread scientific temper throughout the country," he said. The month-long journey into the realms of scientific discoveries and creative innovations gains significance as the Science Congress, an annual national event, was denied sufficient funding of Rs 5 crores.

Covering an impressive 2.5 lakh square feet area, this specially curated science exhibition stands as an unprecedented venture in Asia. It is a collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), and Amuseum ArtScience, a non-profit public trust bridging the worlds of science and art. The exhibition offers visitors an enlightening experience under the theme of 'Life Science.'

This festival promises a fusion of artistry and cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) through a myriad of interactive exhibits. Some highlights include an immersive model of the universe, a replica of the HMS Beagle pivotal to Darwin's theory of evolution, a life-size dinosaur skeleton model, an immersive experience depicting the scars of war, a brain mega walk-in, explorations into the evolution of language and vision, and an engaging exploration of the human body.

The festival will feature contributions from various international and national entities, including the US Consulate General, the British Council, the German Consulate, Alliance Française, IISER Thiruvananthapuram, CSIR-NIIST, and Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, among others. Notable features of the festival include 'Museum of the Moon' and 'Mars' by the British installation artist Luke Jerram; 'Molecular Animation' by Melbourne-based animator Drew Berry; 'Water Matters' by Dr Douglas Herman (executive director, Pacific Worlds Institute); a pavilion curated by the British Council; 'Seeds of Culture' by Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum in Bangalore, and many more.

The festival will host numerous discussions and public lectures, featuring distinguished speakers from various fields. Prof. Morten P Meldal, Nobel laureate in Chemistry, will deliver a speech. The US Consulate General, Chennai is facilitating a NASA-JPL Lecture Series at the Global Science Festival Kerala, marking the first of its kind in the state where NASA scientists will share their expertise. In addition to Prof. Meldal, notable speakers include Dr Madhulika Guhathakurta and Denise Hill from NASA, Dr Robert Potts from Manchester Metropolitan University, Prof. Michael Wilson from Loughborough University, Dr Suresh C. Pillai from Atlantic Technological University, Dr Rajeev Pattathil from Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Ms Kanimozhi Karunanidhi MP, Dr Rajendra Singh (Magsaysay awardee), and Ms Malini V Shankar IAS from the Indian Maritime University. These eminent speakers are scheduled to contribute their insights to the festival's enriching programme.