Proud to partner with Kerala at Global Science Festival: US Consulate General spokesperson

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‘Example of US-India space diplomacy ties’

“Our US Pavilion, featuring NASA JPL scientists, is an example of our US-India space diplomacy ties. Our US-India science and technology cooperation promotes economic growth and allows us to develop new and innovative technologies and products to address shared challenges,” Jackson said.

Noting that science, technology, and innovation are key tools to address global challenges such as climate change, health, education, food, water, and energy security, she said they are building public-private partnerships that promote science and technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship.

“We recognise the importance of gender equality in the scientific workforce and have conducted numerous exchanges encouraging more women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” Jackson added.

The US Consulate General Chennai, which has been an integral part of South India’s academic and cultural landscape for the last 76 years, has partnered with the Government of Kerala to host a US pavilion at the inaugural Global Science Festival Kerala (GSFK).

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The festival

The month-long festival, progressing at the Bio 360 Life Sciences Parkin nearby Thonnakkal in Thiruvananthapuram, features the US pavilion where participants can attend science lectures including that of top National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists, explore exhibits, and access high-on-demand educational resources.

The pavilion includes exhibits on the environment, space sciences, and extra-terrestrial intelligence with renowned collaborators, including NASA and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Labs, an official statement said here.

On 22 January, the US pavilion hosted a series of science talks by five NASA scientists, part of the prestigious NASA-Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission (NISAR), at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), it said.

NASA astrophysicist Dr Madhulika Guhathakurta, who was the chief guest at the GSFK opening ceremony, inaugurated the US Pavilion on 15 January, along with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The US pavilion also highlights the importance of education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and exchange opportunities in the United States, while introducing resources and exclusive programming for patrons — students, experts, researchers, and faculty, the statement added.

The GSFK will be concluded on 15 February.