4th AISSQ Conference on
Science & Spiritual Quest
NIT Tiruchirappalli
December 27-29, 2008
Fourth AISSQ Conference (AISSQ-2008), held during 27 – 29 December 2008 was hosted by NIT Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Padma Bhushan Dr. N. Mahalingam, Chairman, Shakti Group was the Chief Guest of the Conference; Prof. Amit Goswami, Theoretical Quantum Physicist; and Prof. Jagadish Srivastava, Colorado State University; presented the Keynote addresses. More than 400 delegates participated in the conference. The conference also featured a National Level Students’ Essay Competition on “India should focus on a balanced growth of scientific temper and spiritual wisdom”, where the winners were given the chance to present their essays during the Conference.
Conference Poster
Science & Spiritual Quest
The progress in natural sciences and technological advancement has provided tremendous benefits and comforts to human society. Spirituality brings value to one’s existence and it provides answers to the fundamental questions that bother inquisitive minds. From a distance, science and spirituality may appear contradictory, and while pursuing a career in one, the practice Of the Other may appear an impediment. But, on delving deeper, as many of our founding fathers of science experienced, one would find that science and spirituality complement each other. They are methodologies to understand the various facets of the Absolute Truth. Science helps in spiritual realization. Spirituality helps in proper scientific understanding and a balanced world-view. With a scientific outlook, a spiritualist serves the society in a better way, and With a spiritual perspective, a scientist better appreciates the Creator, His creations and their mysteries. Thus, a quest for science and spirituality is always worth pursuing, and a proper understanding of both is essential for a harmony between the self, the society, the nation and the world.
NIT Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
December 27-29, 2008
Book
This volume Of the conference proceedings Of the 4th All India Students’ Conference on Science and Spiritual Quest contains thoughts from 28 eminent speakers on their quests for science and spirituality. They have pondered deep into various areas such as genetic engineering, quantum physics, evolutionary biology, mathematics, philosophy, economics, neuroscience, artificial intelligence and cosmology, and have brought out many threads of wisdom. Their realizations are a valuable source Of knowledge and will provide genuine guidance to the sincere seekers of knowledge in their search for the deeper answers concerning life and our universe.