Most of the media reports relating to farmers and farming in our country usually relate to agrarian distress and farmer suicides.

We are currently in the midst of Make in India week (13-18 February 2016) This is a welcome revival of the Swadeshi Approach of Mahatma Gandhi of which the Charka and Khadi became the most powerful symbols.

Indian Public Library Movement's (IPLM) partners the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the P N Panicker Foundation (PNPF) organised a knowledge exchange visit to three public libraries in Kerala. On 06 - 08 February, 2017, MSSRF organised the first convening for its INELI India Cohort - 2 at Poovar Island, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The event saw participation of more than 20 public librarians from various parts of India.

Dr Bruce Alberts, one of world’s leading biological scientists and former President of the US National Academy of Sciences, has emphasised the urgency of empowering great teachers’ in order to improve the quality of education.

According to the intergovernmental panel on climate change, a rise in sea level will be one of the consequences of global warming. More than 25% of the global population live near the sea.

The concept of the Anthropocene makes clear humans’ current geological role in making resources, and not just using them.

The Centenary of Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi is being marked across the world and in India. As a tribute to the musician and the person, a programme is being held at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation

The 29th Annual General Body Meeting of the Centre for Research on Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (CRSARD) was held at MSSRF, Chennai on September 20, 2016.

Science communication is becoming very important in democratic societies where important decisions particularly in the resource allocation area are taken by duly elected bodies.

Prof M S Swaminathan received the Doctorate of Science (Honoris Causa) awarded by the Panjab University in Chandigarh from the President of India on 14th March, this year at Chandigarh. The other noted persons who received their honorary doctorates at the 64th convocation included noted mathematician Dr Manjul Bhargava and Nobel Laureate, Shri Kailash Satyarthi.

National Training Programme on “Agrobiodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Livelihoods and need for Adaptation to Climate Change” for Scientists and Technologists in the Government Sector from 21-25 September,2015 at Chennai with the support of DST (Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi).

According to recent NSS data (2011-12) only one in 10 adults receive training under the Skill India Mission.