Shillong: The 96th Indian Science Congress ended on Wednesday at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Meghalaya with a call to the scientific community to see how they can tackle problems relating to environment, space and science education.

"The Congress has provided young scientists with great opportunities to know about the latest in science and technology," Vice Chancellor of NEHU Pramod Tandon said.

"The five-day event has also succeeded in projecting the vital role of bio-technology."

Experts who gathered at the Congress said the event rightfully highlighted the importance of producing enough food to feed the teeming millions, while sustaining the limited natural resources.

Thousands of students, teachers, including eminent scientists from across the country and abroad participated in the Congress which deliberated on various facets scientific development at several sectional meetings.

"We are exploring various options to meet the environmental problems and creating mass awareness and the need to educate people in all walks of lives about environment," B.K. Tiwari, an eminent scientist, said.

Prof Taisei Nomura, Japanese scientist in the National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, said the Science Congress has provided an opportunity to present a paper on cancer research in Japan.

"My task is to find a cure for cancer after conducting a series of experiments on mice," Prof Nomura said. For some undergraduate students from Canada, the Science Congress held for the first time in Shillong was "a great learning experience".

"We could experience the uniqueness of different cultures and scientific views and we will use the knowledge we gathered in Shillong for our future studies," Ramona, one of the students from Canada, said.

Five Nobel laureates - Prof Ahmed Zewail, Prof Yuan T Lee, Gerhard Ertl, Koichi Tanaka, and Prof Bert Sakmann - could not participate after their respective countries refused permission to visit India following the recent terror strikes.

"It is true some foreign delegates failed to attend the event due to the recent disturbing developments in India," the NEHU Vice-Chancellor said. IANS