CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI), Kolkata, conducted the “One Week, One Lab” programme during 22-26 August 2023.The Curtain Raiser event was held on 22 August 2023 in the institute. Dr Ranjan Sen, Director of Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, was the Chief Guest and was accompanied as Guest of Honour by Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology and R&D of Tata Steel; Dr Ranjana Agarwal, Director of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research; and Dr HS Maiti, Former Director of CSIR-CGCRI. The programme was also associated with exhibitions of the technology portfolio of the institute.

On 22 August 2023, an Industry Meet was organised at CSIR-CGCRI in which around 20 industries from various sectors joined the programme in person while around 13 joined online. Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology and R&D of Tata Steel was the Chief Guest during the interaction. The meet was followed by a visit to selected laboratories and interaction with scientists to explore R&D collaboration.

On 23 August, CSIR-CGCRI organised a college/university connect programme entitled “Connecting and Creating Future Leaders”. It was attended by around 127 students, the interaction aimed at creating scientific temper among youngsters to transform them to future S&T leaders. Prof. Parthasarathi Chakrabarti, Director IIEST, Shibpur, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Prof. AK Mishra, Director CSIR-CIMFR was present as the Guest of Honour. Sessions included were the history of CSIR and CSIR-CGCRI; highlights of technological achievements of the institute; and demonstration of products/technologies through lab visits.

An Open Day and Skill Development event was organised on 24 August 2023 with the aim of creating awareness in S&T among common people and artisans. Dr Suman Kumari Mishra, Director, CSIR-CGCRI welcomed the participants, Dr Ramanuj Narayan, Director, CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and delivered a lecture highlighting the connection between science and society. Around 100 participants from rural and urban areas participated in the programme and underwent skill development/demonstration on making terracotta potteries. CSIR-CGCRI products and technologies were also showcased during the event.

As a part of the programme, the CSIR-CGCRI Outreach Centres at Naroda (Gujarat) and Khurja (Uttar Pradesh) organized programmes on 24 August 2023 during which more than 65 participants attended including students and faculty from institutions such as NID, GU, etc. Shri Rupesh bhai Shah of Sonya Group graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Shri GG Trivedi from Vidres India was the Distinguished Guest. Director CSIR-CGCRI, Dr Suman Kumari Mishra welcomed the participants. The interaction was followed by a guided lab visit.

At the Khurja Centre, a similar programme was graced by Shri Kuldeep Meena, Chief Development Officer of Bulandshahr as Chief Guest; and Shri R Ranna, President of KPMA as Special Guest. A large number of students and artisans participated in the programme.

Under the campaign, CSIR-CGCRI conducted a school connect programme on 25 August 2023. It was intended to promote scientific temper among school students and encourage them to pursue research in different scientific domains. The Chief Guest Dr KJ Sreeram, Director of CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, highlighted the role of CSIR in nation-building activities, and the Guest of Honour Dr Arun Bandyopadhyay, Director of CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Biology inspired the students to pursue science for the best interest of the nation. This event was attended by around 295 students and 28 teachers from seven schools. Participant schools included Kendriya Vidyalaya, Dumdum, StXaviers Institution, Laxmipat Singhania School, Silver Point School, Mukul Bose Memorial School, Jadavpur High School and The Summit School.

The school participants in this programme enjoyed different scientific activities, including popular lectures, live interactive sessions, different product demonstrations of CSIR-CGCRI, scientific quizzes, virtual lab platforms, and many more. Scientists working in different fields showcased CGCRI's various advanced technologies.

The “One Week, One Lab” programme of CSIR-CGCRI concluded with the 73rd Institute Foundation Day celebration on 26 August 2023. This occasion was marked with the 20thAtma Ram Memorial Lecture delivered by Dr (Mrs) N Kalaiselvi, Secretary DSIR and Director General, CSIR, who was the Chief Guest. She spoke on “SDGs and S&T Opportunities”, wherein she touched upon the alignment of CSIR themes with the SDGs vis-a-vis national mission programmes; the challenges in their implementation and the road ahead for achieving the same.

The programme also felicitated institute staff members for their performance. The Director CSIR-CGCRI welcomed the participants while Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President (Technology and R&D) of Tata Steel was present as Guest of Honour besides other dignitaries. Dr Kalaiselvi also opened the Atma Ram Memorial Museum & Archives to the public. The museum envisages tracing the technological evolution of ceramics from the historic period; and the journey of CSIR and CSIR-CGCRI since inception.