Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The three-day Jammu and Kashmir Science Congress 2026 concluded on Thursday at the Nund Reshi Auditorium of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Awantipora, closing a gathering that brought together scientists, researchers, academicians, innovators, policymakers and students from across the country.
The Congress was organised by IUST in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Science, Technology and Innovation Council (JKSTIC) of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Jammu and Kashmir. It was held under the theme “Science, Innovations and Emerging Technologies for Sustainable and Viksit J&K,” a framing that tied laboratory research to the developmental needs of the Union Territory.
Minister for School Education, Higher Education, Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Sakeena Masood Itoo was the Chief Guest at the valedictory function. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani attended as Guest of Honour, and IUST Vice Chancellor Prof. Shakeel Ahmad Romshoo, the Chief Patron of the Congress, was present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Itoo emphasised the importance of scientific research, innovation and emerging technologies in achieving sustainable development. She said platforms of this kind give young researchers and students the opportunity to explore new ideas and test them in front of peers and experts.
Wani stressed the need to adopt new technologies to accelerate development and bring positive transformation to society. His remarks reflected a message that ran through the Congress: that scientific knowledge must ultimately find its way into public service, whether in healthcare, energy, agriculture or disaster preparedness.
Prof. Romshoo underlined the commitment of IUST to promoting research, innovation and collaboration among academia, industry and government institutions. Such three-way cooperation is widely regarded as essential for turning academic findings into products, policies and jobs, and it has been a recurring theme in the Union Territory’s push for a stronger research ecosystem.
During the valedictory ceremony, Best Presentation Awards were conferred on researchers and participants for outstanding presentations of their research papers. The awards recognised young and established scholars who shared their work across the Congress’s technical and plenary sessions.
The Congress opened on September 29 with a programme spanning technical sessions, plenary talks and a dedicated school students’ science segment. Its conclusion at IUST marks the end of a three-day exchange that placed Awantipora at the centre of scientific discussion in Kashmir this week, and organisers will hope that the connections made between institutions and students translate into lasting collaboration.
