It is important for aspiring scientists to understand that science and technology and society are inter-related, M.S. Ananth, Director, IIT-Madras, said on Friday.
Addressing the valedictory of the first camp of the Research Science Initiative, a month-long residential programme hosted by the Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Group of Schools to revive student interest in basic sciences, Professor Ananth pointed out that science and technology are driven by society and at the same time also exert influence on it.
He urged students to have faith in professional knowledge and believe that it can be harnessed for society's benefit. He also stressed the need to have “a lot of culture in order to appreciate science and technology.”
Noting that scientific knowledge had to be tempered with character, Professor Ananth cited Swami Vivekananda's espousal of the four essential attitudes — wishing prosperity for the world, finding joy in others' happiness, sympathising with the misery of others and ignoring the wicked.
Matter of concern
N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu , said it was a matter of concern that while India was doing well in technology and economy, it was falling behind in scientific research and research productivity in institutions of higher learning.
Citing an article by Infosys chairman N. R. Narayana Murthy, Mr. Ram said India only had 156 researchers per million of population as against the 4,700 per million of population ratio in the United States. While the U.S. had 1.57 million researchers and China 1.42 million researchers, India only had 1.54 lakh researchers.
The poor investment in science and faculty was also reflected in the fact that 51 per cent of posts were lying vacant in a survey of 47 universities, he said.
Mr. Ram wanted the students to seriously think about the unreasonable and the irrational that was being pushed as science in the media space in recent times. He urged them not to be taken in by pseudo science and mumbo-jumbo in the garb of science.
Peter Lohman, Vice-Consul, U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, said science was not about products but about processes. He wanted students to practise the methods and rational decision-making intrinsic to scientific endeavour in their daily lives as well.
“Science is also an essential part of the world around you and a global language critical to your future,” he said.
Noting that there were innumerable challenges such as global warming that needed intervention of scientists, Mr. Lohman said being a scientist provided a unique opportunity to contribute to the betterment of humankind.
Joann P. DiGennaro, president, Centre for Excellence in Education, McLean, U.S., said the student alumni of the RSI would be linked up to the students of their programmes worldwide.
Ms. DiGennaro also distributed certificates to the students.
Mrs. Y.G. Parthasarathy, Dean and Director, PSBB Group of Schools, said the graduation of the first batch of the RSI was the culmination of a long-cherished dream.
The RSI, in the coming years, could be expanded to benefit students across Tamil Nadu and even India, she said.
Presenting a report, K. Mangala Sunder, RSI chairman, said the residential programme had comprised lectures in mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, 10 special lectures, lab visits and extra mural lectures.
Sheela Rajendra, Vice-Principal and Correspondent, PSBB; V. Balakrishnan, RSI chairman; and C. S. Seshadri, patron, also spoke.
