The Midnight Kingdom
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R.N. 70269/98 Postal Registration No.: DL-SW-1/4082/15-17 ISSN : 0972-169X Date of posting: 26-27 of advance month Date of publication: 24 of advance month September 2017 Vol. 19 No. 12 Rs. 5.00 The Midnight Kingdom Editorial: Some interesting 35 lessons for predators and parasites from nature Scientific research is a challenging 34 job: Mashelkar The Midnight Kingdom 32 Anecdotes from the life of 29 scientists Of Poisonous Snakes and 27 Snakebites— Identifying the medically-important species Recent Developments in 24 Science and Technology In Memoriam: Prof. U.R. Rao & 20 Prof. Yash Pal 36 EDITORIAL Some interesting lessons for predators and parasites from nature I am writing this editorial as a chemical Let me go back to the same phenomena ecologist. In this context, I can be seen as of biochemical and physically expressed an accidental communicator. However, I resistance mechanisms of the host. This is Dr. R. Gopichandran had the advantage of working closely with with special reference to plant hosts and I leading ecologists and specialists engaged derive my inspiration from my understanding able to acknowledge the open-endedness of in the development and implementation of of insect-plant interactions. Several genotypic science and ask if they know about things policies for sustainable development. This and phenotypic adaptations are seen in these and aspects and knowledge systems they do has been consistently so for more than two bio-systems and they are aligned with rapid not know? Is it okay for communicators decades and a half. However, an important induced resistance and delayed induced to engage in self-aggrandisement and in mainstay has been communication and manifestations. Interestingly the host and the this process not be inclusive enough to therefore, I thought I should extend the phytophagous elements/parasites continue understand or acknowledge the wisdom co- logic of lessons from chemical and microbial to coexist. Importantly, chemical ecologists communicators can bring into the landscape ecology to the dynamics of impact of science may or may not often be able to capture the of science communication. Zealots should communication in the science and society implications of such continually co-evolving not become overenthusiastic (!!!) and assume interface. Two interesting examples of lessons resistance mechanisms at the very instance they can transform institutions in a jiffy. from nature that have guided the evolution they evolve. They can define the occurrence Mutual respect is therefore the name of the of industry landscape around the world of such resistance either as an event in the past game and this respect should be evident are about industrial metabolism and eco- or expected to evolve in the future. Cross- in understanding each other’s limits and industrial networking. Mutually beneficial resistance phenomena baffle our management limitations while serving the larger agenda exchange and use of materials and energy strategies further. The most important take- of truth and inclusiveness for the benefit of considered as wastes, for further recovery and away for institutions in this context is the fellow citizens in our country. The agenda reuse are essential elements of this framework. wisdom that hosts are always sensitive to the of science and the agenda of inclusiveness This implies a dynamic equilibrium between infection and infestations they are exposed are more important than the agenda of generators of waste and the ability of end users to. They do everything to optimise on energy propagation one’s own assumed wisdom or of waste to optimise on energy and material- systems to protect themselves and often the lack of it. related metabolism. Another typical example accommodate the parasite, and in the case of These undercurrents of the dynamics in biological systems is about the coevolution predators, only partly succumb to predatory of science communication, I believe, are of resistance in hosts and its influence on pressures. The latter is evident with a decrease extremely important to create and foster concurrent adaptive abilities of predators and in the population size of the host; nevertheless healthy respect for each other. This will also parasites. This implies robust host searching seeds sprout again and newer generations of demonstrate the true spirit of inclusiveness behaviours and deriving nutritional and other hosts emerge. that science stands for. Co-evolution is the protection benefits from the host. The host Let me extend this ability of plant hosts other facet of such a coming together. Nature in turn continues to evolve safeguards and not to coexist to the framework of institutions, is truly benevolent. She also teaches us that it succumb entirely to survival pressures exerted especially in the field of science communication. is possible and rather essential to co-exist. by the predators and the parasites. Is it It is important to ask if institutions engaged Email: r.gopichandran possible for institutions to learn useful lessons in science communication are resilient @vigyanprasar.gov.in n about coexistence and tackle pressure exerted enough to accommodate exaggerations and by zealots, in this context? understand controversies. Are they also Editor : R Gopichandran Vigyan Prasar is not responsible for the statements/opinions expressed and photographs used by the authors in their articles/write-ups published in Associate editor : Rintu Nath “Dream 2047” Production : Manish Mohan Gore, Pradeep Kumar, Babita & Sonu Bhatia Articles, excerpts from articles published in “Dream 2047” may be freely Expert member : Biman Basu reproduced with due acknowledgement/credit, provided periodicals in Address for Vigyan Prasar, C-24, which they are reproduced are distributed free. correspondence : Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi-110 016 Published and Printed by Manish Mohan Gore on behalf of Vigyan Prasar, Tel : 011-26967532; Fax : 0120-2404437 C-24, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 016 and Printed at Aravali e-mail : [email protected] Printers & Publishers Pvt. Ltd., W-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, website : http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in New Delhi-110 020 Phone: 011-26388830-32. 35 Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 INTERVIEW Scientific research is a challenging job: Mashelkar Manish Mohan Gore Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar is an eminent Indian scientist and a former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR). Dream-2047 presents to its readers his views on an array of topics related to science, technology, innovation and development of scientific aptitude in the country. The following interview is based on Dr Mashelkar’s conversation with Manish Mohan Gore of Vigyan Prasar. Manish Mohan Gore (MMG): You are a renowned scientist with an impressive We need to inculcate record of research work in polymer science. a scientific worldview Working in several important capacities MMG: What motivated you to including the Director General of CSIR and become a scientist? in the society as well the Director of the National Chemical RAM: Mr Bhave was the principal as within ourselves. Laboratory (NCL), you have served the of my school. He also taught science. He country well. Tell our readers about your was an exceptional teacher. He focussed This is a pre-requisite childhood, education and family. more on learning through experience than Raghunath Anant Mashelkar mere cramming answers that could fetch if we want to become (RAM): Born into a poor family, I lost marks in examinations. He once took us the father at the age of six. My mother to a soap factory to show its functioning. a developed country. was illiterate. However, she was convinced Demonstrating how ordinary sunrays We should always that education is the only key to a bright focussed through a lens could burn future. She endured many hardships paper, Bhave taught the importance of keep in mind that we and took up small jobs in Bombay (now mental focus in achieving success. I took his Mumbai) to support my studies. Whatever lessons to heart and fascinated as I was, by cannot move forward the circumstances, mother ensured that my the power of science, I resolved to become until we adopt a education was never affected. Although a scientist. left unlettered herself due to many harsh MMG: What do we need to do to rational approach. adversities, she dreamt of providing world’s have more scientists like you in India? best education to her son. I completely owe RAM: Teachers play a pivotal role in my PhD and Post-Doctorate to her efforts. developing any nation and producing great scientists. They are the fundamental source Dr. Manish Mohan Gore is a popular science writer. He has been serving Vigyan Prasar since 2007. E-mail: [email protected]. Dream 2047, September 2017, Vol. 19 No. 12 34 of good education and inspire the students to the CSIR, I tried to motivate scientists as non-government agencies, are making dream big. Therefore, the role of the teachers by challenging them to test their limits. many efforts to popularise science. Do you in this regard can never be over emphasised. Working under the New Millennium think they are sufficient to change people’s MMG: How did you promote Development Goals, I encouraged them mentality and thought process? innovation during one-and-a-half decade- to take risks. I told my scientists to try to RAM: First, We need to inculcate a long tenure at the CSIR? introduce a hitherto new idea to the world. scientific worldview in the society as well as RAM: I found it strange that no two I assured to back them even in their failures. within ourselves. This is a pre-requisite if we laboratories of CSIR communicated with This approach had yielded results and the want to become a developed country. We each other. They all worked in isolation. This country benefitted through many new ideas.