bhubaneswar with 10 days to go for the 99th indian science congress isc organizers are busy giving finishing touches to the venue of the mega conference at kiit university here while a 20 acre land on the kiit campus campus no 13 has been developed exclusively for the isc to be held from january 3 to 7 roads leading to the venue are being refurbished and landscaping done on either side of the boundary walls of the site mm active a delhibased company has been readying the setting for the congress being jointly hosted by the kiit university and union governments national institute of science education and research niser the venue can accommodate 20000 people an allindia science exhibition childrens science congress womens science congress plenary session and cultural programmes will be held at the same compound said dr achyuta samanta founder of kiit a dining hall has been prepared to accommodate over 3000 people at a time he said a podium odisha mandap has been designed on campus 3 opposite the main isc venue to showcase the states rich art culture heritage history and tradition kiit campus 6 convention hall will hold some of the sessions while campus 3 4 and library campuses will witness parallel sessions the prestigious unescokalinga award will be presented during the isc at campus 7 while the theatre in campus 5 will host the science films festival he said to accord a grand welcome to delegates and participants the organizers and the odisha government have cleaned the road from biju patnaik airport to the kiit venue similarly the road from patia to kalinga institute of social sciences kiss is being widened and redecorated while arrangements have been made to accommodate 13000 guests in kiit hostels hotels in bhubaneswar and cuttack have been already booked for 2500 other participants some 15000 scientists including at least 20 noble laureates corporate bigwigs and leaders from across the world are scheduled to participate in the meet nearly one lakh students may attend the isc all nobel laureates will stay in hotel trident and hotel mayfair samanta said over 11000 participants have already registered for the isc we hope another 4000 to register either online or on the spot during the congress said dr abhaya kumar naik registrar of niser who is a local organizing secretary of the conference around 1500 volunteers including kiit employees and students will work for smooth conduct of the congress prime minister dr manmohan singh is scheduled to inaugurate the conference being held for the second time in odisha after 34 years at 10 am on january 3 the theme of the congress this year is science and technology for inclusive innovation role of women