National Science Day- February 28th

• National Science Day is celebrated every year on February 28^th.
• It is celebrated to commemorate the day, Sir CV Raman discovered the Raman Effect.
• The theme for this year is ‘Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat’.
• The theme ‘Indigenous Technologies for Viksit Bharat’ aims to reflect a strategic focus on promoting public appreciation for Science, Technology and Innovation and the accomplishments of Indian scientists to address challenges through home-grown technologies for overall well-being.
• The ‘Raman Effect’ was discovered by physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, also known as CV Raman.
• For his contributions to science, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1930.
  • He was the first time an Asian received this prize.
• In 1986, the Government of India designated February 28 as National Science Day, to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the “Raman effect”.

ABOUT RAMAN EFFECT

• The Raman Effect refers to the phenomenon in which when a stream of light passes through a liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different colour.
  • In general, when light interacts with an object, it can either be reflected, refracted or transmitted.
  • One of the things that scientists look at when light is scattered is if the particle it interacts with is able to change its energy.
  • The Raman Effect is when the change in the energy of the light is affected by the vibrations of the molecule or material under observation, leading to a change in its wavelength.
• The discovery found its use in chemistry, giving birth to a new field known as Raman spectroscopy.
• It is a basic analytical tool to conduct non-destructive chemical analysis for both organic and inorganic compounds.
• It is used in disease diagnosis, monitoring cellular processes, studying art, analysis of air and water pollutants, and detecting drugs, fibres, and chemicals, among various other things.