LUCKNOW, July 24 -- Former director general, Films Division, Mukesh Sharma said on Thursday that while paleobotanists have studied and found the migration and extinction of various species and how Earth would behave in future, sci-films are a necessity, not a luxury. He was among the experts present at the inaugural session of three-day PRITHVI 2026 - The Palaeoscience Film Festival of India and National Dialogue on Earth Science Communication at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP). "Sci-films ignite curiosity and connect people with a similar deep connection and understanding of the topic with which the scientist had accomplished the research. We must create a population which is not just literate but also scientifically literate. The films are ways through which high quality content is delivered and through films we are building a movement and a generation of scientists," said Sharma. Earlier, Nimish Kapoor, festival convenor, introduced the vision of PRITHVI 2026, highlighting the role of films and creative storytelling in making Earth science accessible to society. Prof Mahesh G Thakkar, director, BSIP and festival director, emphasised that effective science communication is essential for addressing contemporary environmental and climate challenges. Chief guest, prof Raj Kumar Mittal, vice-chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, said that film festivals like this one, democratise scientific knowledge, celebrate curiosity, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and build meaningful conversations between science and society. Mahesh Jha, head, DW Hindi, actor and theatre artist Sujata Mehta and Shiv Kumar Sharma, organising secretary, Vigyan Bharati, also spoke on the occasion. A film 'Fossil Memoirs - Episode 1' was also screened on the occasion. htc...