Chandigarh, Dec. 9 -- The India International Science Festival (IISF), originally slated to be hosted at Panjab University, was shifted to Panchkula just as the campus was grappling with senate protests - a decision that has ended up costing the varsity and its students one of the most significant academic and inspirational opportunities of the year.

In early November, PU had officially announced that IISF would take place on its campus. Later in the month, however, when the chancellor informed the university he would not be attending the December 13 annual convocation, authorities were also told that the IISF venue had been moved.

Citing the disturbed atmosphere created by the ongoing protests for senate election schedule, officials co...