Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare has inaugurated a new institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) ie CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR), in New Delhi.

The new institute has been established consequent to the merger of two prestigious institutes of CSIR namely, CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (CSIR-NISCAIR)and CSIR-National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (CSIR-NISTADS) which work at the interface of S&T and Society; and Science Communication and Policy Research.

Dr Vardhan highlighted that the purpose of this merger is to combine the strength of the two institutes in a synergistic way with a vision to become a globally respected think tank and resource centre for understanding science, technology and innovation (STI) Policy Research and communication.

Dr Shekhar C Mande, Director General, CSIR, highlighted that the mission of the institute is to promote STI policy studies and science communication among diverse stakeholders and act as a bridge at the interface of science, technology, industry and society which is essential to a robust S&T ecosystem in the country.

Prof Ranjana Aggarwal, Director CSIR-NISCAIR & CSIR-NISTADS highlighted the key roles played by both the institutes in the past few decades. CSIR-NISCAIR, has been a frontier institute in science communication publishing popular science magazines (Vigyan Pragati and Science Reporter) and Scientific Journals.