All India Peoples Science Network

All India Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) is a National Network of Peoples Science Movements of India. It was established in the first All India Peoples Science Congress, organised in 1988 at Kannur in Kerala State. The attempt to establish a national platform for science organisations in India started in the late 1960s. By that time, there were Science organisations in West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Kerala and Maharashtra. In many other states, there were committed scientists who were interested to work with people for a social cause.

The first common platform of scientists was organised by working scientists of BARC in Mumbai. It was named FILSA (Federation of Indian Literary Scientists Association). They supported different groups of scientists in different language speaking states with science writings in the vernacular. In 1973 and 1978, regional conferences of scientists were organised in Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram. As a result, organisations were formed in few other states also. By the 1970s, there was Assam Science Society in Assam, Bangeeya Vigyan Parishad in West Bengal, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad in Kerala and Karnataka Rajya Vijnan Parishad in Karnataka. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 created a situation for these groups to work together against abuse of science and technology and lot of such activities were organised. In 1987, five national kala jathas were organised in the name Bharat Jan Vijnana Jatha(BJVJ) which culminated in Bhopal. Following this, organisations sprouted in various states which created a conducive atmosphere for the establishment of the AIPSN.

When AIPSN was established in February 1988, there were 28 member organisations and presently, it has 35 members. AIPSN functions as a common platform for interaction on Science and Technology issues and learning. It organises All India Peoples Sciences Congress every two years to discuss various experiences in Science and Technology. The organisational conference of AIPSN is held along with the AIPSC.

Members of AIPSN^[1]

1. Assam Science Society, Assam;
2. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Bihar;
3. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Orissa;
4. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Rajasthan;
5. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Punjab;
6. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Karnataka;
7. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Uttar Pradesh;
8. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Uttaranchal Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samithi, Madhya Pradesh;
9. Centre for Social Work and Research, Tripura;
10. Delhi Science Forum, Delhi;
11. Ekalavya- Madya Pradesh;
12. Federation of Medical Sales Representatives Association of India;
13. Haryana Vigyan Munch, Haryana;
14. Himachal Vigyan Manch, Himachal Pradesh;
15. Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samithi;
16. Jana Vigana Vedika (AP);
17. Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, Kerala;
18. Kanpur Science Society, UP;
19. Lok Sehat Manch, Punjab;
20. Lok Vigyan Sanghatan, Mumbai;
21. Madhya Pradesh Vignana Sabha, MP;
22. National Confederation of Officers Association of Central Public Sector Undertaking (NCOACPSU);
23. Pondicherry Science Forum, Pondicherry;
24. Paschimabanga Vigyan Manch, Kolkata;
25. Srujanica- Orissa;
26. Tamilnadu Science Forum, Chennai;
27. Tripura Science Society, Agartala

Major areas of AIPSN activities

1) Science Communication and Publication 2) Health 3) Education 4) Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development 5) Agriculture 6) Rural Technology 7) Decentralization 8) Samata 9) Cultural Communication

References

• "Secularism and People's Science Movement in India" and "Towards a People's Science Movement" from Economic and Political Weekly
• "People's Science Movement" from Science, technology, imperialism, and war

• "The People's Science Movements" from Knowing Nature
• "Science for social change"