Jaipur, Feb. 27 -- Rajasthan assembly speaker Vasudev Devnani declared on Thursday that science extends beyond laboratories to embody a life perspective tied to social development, innovation, and human values. "Blending scientific temper with cultural values will drive India to global leadership," said Devnani. Addressing the inaugural session of the three-day Rajasthan Science Festival, organised to mark National Science Day at Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) Jaipur, Devnani spoke on the theme "Women in Science: Catalysts for a Developed India". The event is jointly organised by the department of science and technology, government of Rajasthan, Vijnana Bharati Rajasthan, and MNIT Jaipur. In India's civilisational ethos, women have always been regarded as the foundational force of knowledge, creativity, and innovation, he said. Devnani noted that ancient scholars such as Gargi, Maitreyi, and Lopamudra made significant contributions to philosophical and scientific inquiry, laying the groundwork for rational thought and intellectual exploration. He added that in the Indian knowledge tradition, women advanced natural sciences, medicine, agriculture, and environmental conservation-fields aligned with modern sustainable development....