Bangalore: Marking one hundred illustrious years of leadership in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) will organize a centenary conference from December 13 - 16, 2008.

The keynote addresses at the inaugural session of the conference will be delivered by former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, Professor C.N.R. Rao.

"Around 5000 delegates, including 2000 alumni of the IISc from all over the country and abroad are likely to attend the conference", Co-Chairman of the conference, M.L. Munjal said.

Several events focusing on the institute's contribution to fundamental and applied scientific research, its role in creating and nurturing scientific institutions, its place as a pool of talented scientific human resources and its future role will be the features of the conference.

Personalities like Sam Pitroda, Chairman of Knowledge Commission; Goverdhan Mehta, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow; Nobel laureates Sydney Brenner and Eric Maskin; S.K. Brahmachari, Director-General, CSIR; Shyam Saran, special envoy of the Prime Minister; Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-Chairman of Infosys are among others who will participate in the conference.

The centenary celebrations of the institute began on May 27, 2008 and will conclude on May 27, 2009, commemorating the historic date of the vesting order that led to the establishment of the institute.