Organization of Various Conclaves and Felicitations to Encourage Women, Women Scientists, Teachers and Young Students

What is the Organization of Various Conclaves and Felicitations programme?

Organization of Various Conclaves and Felicitations to Encourage Women, Women Scientists, Teachers and Young Students is a programme of the Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre (USERC). USERC is an autonomous institution established in 2005 under the Department of Information Technology, Good Governance and Science & Technology, Government of Uttarakhand, and it works to strengthen science education and research across the state.

According to USERC, the programme aims to promote and enhance a scientific attitude and skill development among women, women scientists, teachers and young students. It does this by organising conclaves, felicitation events and related outreach activities that bring these groups together, recognise achievements, and encourage more participation in science and technology.

This is an institutional activity rather than an individual cash-benefit scheme. There is no monthly payment or personal grant paid to an applicant. Instead, USERC uses public funds to host events, invite participants, and felicitate individuals who have contributed to or excelled in science.

Who is this programme for, and who cannot get a cash benefit?

The programme is meant for:

• Women and women scientists in Uttarakhand, whose participation in science USERC seeks to encourage and recognise.
• Teachers, especially those involved in science education.
• Young students, to spark scientific interest early.

Who cannot apply for a personal cash benefit:

• No individual can apply for a direct monthly pension, scholarship or personal grant under this programme, because it is not structured that way. It is an outreach and felicitation activity. Individuals take part when USERC invites nominations or opens participation for a specific conclave or felicitation event.

This is the single most common misunderstanding. People searching for a women's or students' benefit sometimes expect a cash transfer. This programme instead funds events and recognition, so the way to benefit is to participate when USERC announces an event or calls for nominations.

How to apply to take part in a USERC conclave or felicitation

1. Follow USERC announcements. USERC publishes news, events and calls for nominations on its website at userc.in and its announcements page.
2. Respond to a specific call. When USERC opens nominations for a felicitation, or invites participants for a conclave for women scientists, teachers or students, submit the details it asks for within the stated window.
3. Attend the event. Selected or invited participants join the conclave or felicitation organised by USERC.
4. Stay connected through your institution. Schools, colleges and research institutions in Uttarakhand often receive USERC invitations directly, so teachers and students can also take part through their institution.

What documents or details are needed?

Because there is no standing personal application, document requirements depend on the specific event. When USERC invites nominations for a felicitation, applicants are typically asked for nomination details and proof of the achievement or institutional affiliation being recognised. For general conclave participation, USERC's event registration details apply.

What kinds of conclaves and felicitations does USERC run?

USERC's outreach under this programme takes concrete, recurring forms rather than a single event. According to USERC's announcements, the centre has instituted the USERC Young Women Scientist Award to recognise promising women researchers in the state, a direct example of the "felicitation to encourage women scientists" that gives this programme its name. Alongside recognition, USERC runs orientation and training activities for students, including online ICT orientation programmes for school students of Classes 9 to 12 drawn from schools across Uttarakhand, which feed the same goal of building scientific temper early.

Because the programme is a standing head under which such activities are funded, the specific award, conclave or felicitation open at any given time changes through the year. USERC publishes each call, event and result on its news and events pages, so the honest way to benefit is to watch those announcements and respond to the specific opportunity that matches you, a nomination window for the women scientist award, an invitation to a conclave, or a student orientation programme routed through your school or college.

Why does USERC run conclaves and felicitations?

USERC's core mandate is to strengthen science education and research across Uttarakhand and to build a scientific temper among the state's people. Conclaves and felicitations serve that mandate in two ways. First, recognition — felicitating women scientists, dedicated teachers and promising students publicly signals that scientific achievement is valued, which encourages others to follow. Second, networking and exposure; conclaves bring together researchers, educators and students who might otherwise never meet, letting ideas, mentorship and collaboration flow. For women and girls in particular, seeing role models felicitated and hearing them speak at a conclave can be a decisive nudge toward a science career. This is why the programme is framed around events and recognition rather than cash transfers: its aim is to shift attitudes and build a community, which a one-time payout cannot do on its own.

Key facts to remember

• Run by USERC, an autonomous body under the state science and technology department.
• Purpose: conclaves and felicitations to encourage women, women scientists, teachers and students.
• It is not a personal cash-benefit scheme.
• Participation is through USERC invitations and nominations.

How to nominate someone or take part

Because participation runs through USERC's own calls rather than a standing form, the practical route depends on what is open at the time:

1. For a felicitation or award such as the USERC Young Women Scientist Award, watch the announcements page for the nomination window, then submit the nominee's details and proof of achievement within the stated dates.
2. For a conclave, respond to the participation call USERC publishes for that event, or take part through your school, college or research institution, which often receives USERC invitations directly.
3. For student orientation activities, such as the ICT orientation programmes USERC runs for Classes 9 to 12, the school is usually the point of entry, so a student should ask a teacher whether the institution has been invited.

There is deliberately no single deadline to remember, because the programme is a standing head under which different events open through the year. The reliable habit is to check the USERC announcements page periodically rather than wait for a one-time notice.

Help and where to ask

For upcoming conclaves, felicitation events and nomination calls, refer to the USERC website at userc.in and the Department of Information Technology, Good Governance and Science & Technology page at it.uk.gov.in. Institutions and individuals interested in science outreach can contact USERC directly to learn how to participate. USERC is an autonomous body established in 2005 and based in Dehradun, so enquiries about a specific conclave, award or student programme are best addressed to it rather than to a general state welfare office. For a formal record where a query goes unanswered, a Right to Information application to USERC or the parent department is the accountable route, costing only the nominal RTI fee.