The Nepal Weekly 
June 28, 2022
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said promotion of science and technology in the country would provide great support for attaining speedy development and economic prosperity of the country.
Inaugurating a 3-day mega event ‘9th national science and technology conference’ organised by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in Lalitpur on Sunday, he acknowledged the role of science and technology in bringing positive changes in society.
The Prime Minister, also the NAST Chancellor, said development of science and technology would also be instrumental in fighting against effects of climate change and environment pollution in the country.
NAST vice-chancellor Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha said the event being organised every four years would contribute to formulating science and technology relevant policies in the country, adding that the nation could not take a stride towards development in absence of proper development of science and technology.
According to Shrestha, the NAST has established a network of Nepalese working abroad in the field of science technology and a forum for the bringing together young and female scientists from across the country.
NAST promotion and dissemination division chief Luna Bajra said the NAST is working towards ‘establishment of a science city’ in Kathmandu valley that would be instrumental in bringing the fruits of science and technology directly to the society.
More than 400 scientists, researchers, professors, government officials, students and representatives of various institutions from Nepal, India, UK Pakistan, China, Germany USA and Australia are taking part in the conference.
The theme of the conference is “Science for Society and Innovation for Prosperity. Delivering his key note speech noted eye surgeon Dr. Sanduk Ruit said Nepal has manufactured high quality eye lens at the cheapest rate under his initiative and distributed to six million people across 80 countries across the globe. The cost of the lens has gone down from US $ 200 to just $ 4, which is affordable by the poor people, he pointed out.
