UP Governor Announces ‘Prithvi 2026’, India’s First Palaeoscience Film Festival

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Friday formally announced ‘Prithvi 2026, India’s Palaeoscience Film Festival’ and unveiled its official brochure at Raj Bhavan, Lucknow.

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) Director Prof Mahesh G Thakkar, senior scientist Dr Binita Fartyal, and scientist and festival convenor Dr Nimish Kapoor attended the ceremony.

BSIP, an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, will organise the three-day festival from July 23 to 25, 2026, at the BSIP Auditorium, Lucknow.

Conceived as an annual national initiative, it will become India’s and Asia’s first palaeoscience film festival, bringing together science, cinema and public engagement.

The event will showcase visual narratives on Earth’s history, climate change, biodiversity, geoheritage and environmental sustainability.

The festival revolves around the theme ‘Palaeoscience Research and Public Engagement through Visual Media (Prithvi)’. It carries the message, ‘Bringing Earth’s stories to life to inspire a sustainable future’.

BSIP is organising the festival under its Science Communication for Public Outreach and Public Engagement (SCoPE) initiative.

The programme aims to strengthen scientific awareness by connecting scientists, filmmakers, science communicators, students and young creative professionals. It promotes scientific temper and supports the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

The festival invited entries across seven categories from scientists, filmmakers, students and researchers nationwide.

BSIP will host a National Dialogue on Earth Science Communication for Public Engagement. It will feature lectures, panel discussions, masterclasses and interactive sessions.

Selected films will later serve as educational resources for schools, colleges, universities and scientific institutions.

The festival is being organised with support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Department of Science and Technology.

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