To use various forms of media to promote technological innovation from both formal and informal sectors of science and technology with a view to finding and establishing a synergy between them.
To promote voluntary action to supplement government effort in the field of promoting public understanding of science and science communication aimed specifically at the economically challenged community.
To research, analyse, plan, develop, implement, disseminate and operationalise the effective use of convergence media for technological innovation communication.
To screen films and other media products on the theme of grassroots technological innovations with focus on solutions developed that addresses the real life challenges as well as films at creating scientific temper in schools, colleges, universities and educational institutions throughout the country aimed at making India “Techno-creative”
To promote S&T innovation for rural development with focus on outstanding S&T innovation that has made visible impact and helped in transforming life in Indian villages.
To recognize, aid, promote, and assist in commercialization of S&T innovation that has created a paradigm shift in the standards of quality of life or eliminated the drudgery of rural people.
To help indicate a new way of conducting business to achieve social and economic transformation in the domain of rural development.
To annually compile and publish the feedback received from audience after watching a particular media product and making the same available to both state funded or freelance science television content producers and directors for possible future consideration in fine tuning their treatments in accordance with the expectations of the sample watching public at a reasonable cost.
To organize Search for Truth and Return to Science Through Films and Audio for Scientific Temper (START FAST) Film Festival , for Science and Technology Awareness through Rational Thinking (START).
To engage with inland science television and radio channels in Pre- Production, Production and Post-Production of science films and audio programmes including their acquisition and management.
To train the personnel engaged in audio video production with special soft skills required for creating effective science films and radio programmes.
To upgrade the technical skills of production crew in order to add value to the final television or radio programmes.
To establish science film clubs across the country to let people appreciate the wonders of science by playing back to them science films of both national and international recognition.
To establish and operationalise a science film society of India under the banner titled Indian National Science Association for Films (INSAF) of which, apart from filmmakers, members would also be drawn from the scientific community and those who believe in creating scientific temper through the medium of audio visual with the objective of promoting science film making in the country and to devise strategies to sustain the movement.
To create technological awareness and in turn, create scientific attitude among people at large by promoting the technical solution that the grassroots creative communities throughout the country offer to solve the real life challenges and to reduce drudgery.
To function as a centre for cultivation and popularization of scientific temper and scientific world view by engaging in the following activities in accordance with the objectives of society in Indian languages including English as well as foreign languages.
To demystify science by letting the youngsters see and appreciate how people who have no or very little formal educational background could also invent and innovate.
To harness the great potential of the youth of India for innovation and knowledge creation.
To motivate young Indians to embrace scientific research and take up careers in science and technology.
To take youngsters from far flung villages to visit basic science research laboratories and industrial enterprises based on science to facilitate their face-to-face interaction with the scientists and entrepreneurs for creating awareness and making students appreciate the role science could play in their future lives through the range of R&D work underway at various laboratories. The participating students would have an opportunity to see for themselves the products designed and produced with an appreciable measure of scientific inputs in India and abroad.
To strengthen and promote voluntary efforts in rural and urban development based on scientific enterprise through building of local leaderships, local institutions/ organizations and training workers for a specific purpose to achieve the desired result.
To encourage adoption of modern techniques and appropriate technology for increasing rural and urban prosperity.
To organize and conduct workshopon film making, science communication, public understanding of science and technology for all sections of society.
To hold local/regional/national/ international symposia, seminars, conferences, conventions, etc. on matters related to technological innovations, science, emerging technologies and its social relevance in current and future contexts as well as on themes decided by the Governing Board of START.
To collaborate with central and state governments and other appropriate agencies for formulation and execution of projects, programs and schemes of integrated and inclusive scientific culture.
To provide training for research and writing science for both print and electronic media.
To establish and operate a training centre aimed at science communication.
To persuade governmental and non-governmental agencies to contribute and provide fund for the implementation of projects for creation of a mechanism at START for achieving all round development, the basis for which is laid on the hard bedrock of science and technology.
To produce an annual report covering the developments in the major areas of science and technology aimed at scientists as well as educated non-specialists. This activity is aimed at bridging the gap perceived in critical awareness about fellow scientists’ work engaged elsewhere in research and development in a cross section of other disciplines of science and technology. This would be in the form of a video or celluloid production titled: “Science and Technology Annual Report for Television (START)”.
To devise and operationalise skill development plans.
To create distance learning platforms and innovations in learning.
To establish and maintain information services by establishing a library of films on science, books on science film, research, script, direction, editing, graphics and design of production, and other resources including digital in the areas mentioned above including newer and emerging concepts.
To employ the ‘social media’ to further the objectives of the society.
To collaborate with other institutions, associations and societies in India or abroad interested in pursuing similar and/or allied objectives.
To offer fellowships, scholarships and prizes in view of the objectives of the society.
To undertake Intra and Inter-disciplinary research and training on scientifically relevant problems/issues.
To function as a forum for exchange of ideas among scientists including grassroots technological innovators.
To create and provide opportunities/facilities to young scientists for capacity building through establishment of research and training centres.
To collaborate and cooperate with national and international science organizations/Academies with similar objectives.
To scout, recognize and honour significant efforts in promoting scientific temper.
To bring the scientific community closer to India’s real life challenges and help find a solution for them by employing inputs from both formal and informal scientific sectors.
To uphold and safeguard the professional rights and privileges of grassroots innovators.
(a)The Executive Council within its purview shall accept gifts, grants, donations and endowments to carryout regular activities of START, but shall report the matter to the General Body.
(b) In case such gifts, grants, donations and endowments are designed to create moveable or immoveable property of the Society, it can accept them subject to ratification of the General Body.
(c) In case any gift, donation, grant and endowments are through foreign funding, approval of the Government wherever necessary under the law shall be obtained, apart from the approval and acceptance of the same by the General Body which shall be mandatory.
To contribute to socio-economic-scientific transformation of India through application of Science and Technology, and thereby improving the quality of life of the people.
To contribute to formulation of national policies in scientific sector.
To network with universities, colleges, research and training institutes and social organizations and to act as a nodal centre to promote scientific and technological innovation in the university/educational sector as well as the informal sector including grassroots and traditional wisdom.
