Manmohan Tells Scientists to Think Big and out of the Box India Will Soon Have Navaratna Universities, Says Sibal a Spectrum Reporter
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Special Edition January 3-7, 2011 The campus newspaper of SRM University Private Circulation only January 4, 2011 Volume IV Number II Manmohan tells scientists to think big and out of the box India will soon have Navaratna universities, says Sibal A Spectrum Reporter Maintaining the ideas of science and scientific research must always be linked to the betterment of the people of India, the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, called on the community to think ahead of the times. “The time has come for Indian Science Congress Indian science to once at SRM University. again think big; think The Prime Minister out of the box; and think argued that scientists ahead of the times. The should develop a code of time has come for India conduct on the application to produce the Ramans of their discovery. and Ramanujans of the 21st Century,” Dr. Singh “The question is whether said while delivering the scientists should step The Prime Minister releasing the Plenary Proceedings of the 98th ISC Inaugural Address of the 98th beyond their discipline and at least guide the modern nor liberal. It “This year, as we usher can never hope to extend social discourse on the use is true that products of in the New Year, we also the height of the pyramid of scientific knowledge. science have been put to usher in the ‘Decade of of excellence,” the Prime 2012-13 to be ‘Year Should they develop a code illiberal uses. I sincerely Innovation’. There is no Minister added. of conduct that defines believe we must guard better way to do that than Dr. Singh stressed the of Science in India’ within which they will work against such tendencies, to salute the creativity need for better higher on the application of their especially in our own and the genius of our A Spectrum Reporter education in India and discoveries? Should there country,” he added. scientists and engineers, claimed that the government be a collegial process for our professionals, our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced The Prime Minister is already moving ahead deciding difficult cases? I workers, our scholars and that he has directed the Ministry of Science and praised the role and in that direction. leave these as questions students, gathered here Technology to undertake a national celebration of commitment of Tamil Nadu because the very idea of today,” Dr. Singh said. “Our government has the birth centenary of Professor S. Chandrashekar, in the realm of science and ethics for science needs paid special attention to the one of the outstanding Indian scientists of the research while pointing to “I have always believed further discussion,” Dr. growth of our University 20th century. the eminent personalities that a university is the Singh told the over 7000 system. In the past five like the first Indian Nobel vital link in the chain “The year 2012-13 will be the Centenary delegates gathered at the years our government Laureate Dr C V Raman, of science teaching and Year of the Indian Science Congress. I would Kattankulathur Campus. has established eight Professor S Chandrashekar research. We must never like the Ministry of Science and Technology new Indian Institutes “… it is true that science and one of the greatest forget that. Unless we to designate 2012-13 as the ‘Year of Science of Technology and five in India’,” he said. has made strides even in mathematicians the late strengthen the base of our societies that were neither Srinivasa Ramanujan. educational system, we A P2 • Challenges to science policies - P3 • Nobel Laureates - P 6-7 • Interview with VC - P 8 2 2010 | Spectrum | Volume IV Number II Ratnika Sharma during the Kerela meet, where the torch travelled from the North Vigyan Jyot - spreading The Vigyan Jyot or the torch to South of the state, covering of knowledge completed its a distance of over 1000 Kms. It second run when it reached defines the complete spectrum the light of knowledge the Kattankulathur campus of of science and technology, and SRM University on the eve of presents the various aspects of the Indian Science Congress. life through the perspective of The torch started its journey on science and technology. December 22, 2010 from Sri Venkateswara College in Delhi “Vigyan Jyot symbolises and travelled through Jaipur, national integrity as it passed Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhopal, Nagpur, through the 10 major states of Hyderabad and Bangalore before the country,” said the Chancellor reaching Chennai. It covered of SRM University, Dr. T. R. a distance of over 3000 Kms Pachamuthu, on the occasion. to signify the importance of Dr. K. C Pandey, General science and technology in President, ISC, added that it was people’s daily lives. something truly unique that has The Indian Science Congress spread across the country and Association (ISCA) conceived congratulated SRM University the idea of Vigyan Jyot last year for being a part of it. Vigyan Jyot being brought to SRM University ...think big and out of the box... A P2 private initiatives in the realm of education saying that there was Institutes of Science Education no reason why the private sector and Research to provide high should not enter the teaching quality education and carry environment. Prof Pandey spoke out research in frontier areas of the importance of teachers of science,” he said. stressing that teaching and research “The growth of our economy, are inter-related. In his prepared defense of our people and text, Prof Pandey argued that security of our people depends urgent steps should be taken to on scientific and technological establish /encourage /support competence,” the Prime Minister non-profit research laboratories added. at universities and elsewhere. The theme of this year’s Research laboratories for profit Science Congress is Quality should also be encouraged and Education and Excellence in be eligible for projects from the Science Research in Indian governments. Universities with as many as six “The prejudice against theory Nobel Laureates - Amartya Sen prevails in research laboratories Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Ada and even universities. It is in Yonath, Thomas Steitz, Timothy The Prime Minister receiving a memento from Prof. Pandey the interest of R&D in the Hunt and Martin Chalfie - and country that the prejudice scores of distinguished Indian India will soon have Navaratna that will be 'unique institutions' status teaching and research at against support of theoretical scientists from within the country universities on the lines of and set benchmarks, in academics Indian universities. research should be given up; it the Ivy League institutions, and research with special focus and overseas participating “We have to substantially should be treated on par with in the five day meeting. And free of government control on hunger, water, poverty and increase the resources. We experimental work,” he said. as in the past there is also a and institutions that will get diseases through cutting edge should provide incentives to the “Eminent scientists should Children Science Congress, generous financial backing, science and technology. private sector to invest more on be supported to carry out which is to be inaugurated by including access to external Research and Development,” “At the same time there will research of their choice; the Nobel Laureate Ramakrishnan funding. Mr. Stalin said. The Deputy be emphasis on liberal arts field of research may change, on Tuesday, January 4. Chief Minister pointed to a “We are working on the and social sciences. These based on the opportunities. tendency among students to stay Calling for individual excellence concept of having Navratna Innovation Universities would be The quantum and quality of off subjects like mathematics in research the Union Minister universities or an Indian Ivy innovative in their governance, research and not the area, should and science due to scarcity of of Science and Technology League. We intend to nurture in their financial structure, in be the criterion of continued employment opportunities. and Earth Sciences, Mr.Kapil these select universities, like their academic and research support. Publications should Sibal, pointed to the ‘Decade the public sector Navratnas, structure, in their content and “We must therefore broad-base constitute the progress report. of Innovation’ theme stressed at by generous financial support, in every other way,” Mr Sibal career opportunities in private The support should be in the the last Science Congress and freedom in accessing external told the Science Congress. and public R&D, as well as in form of a block grant without maintained that the government funding and total autonomy so as the university system,” he said, need for detailed budgeting had lived up to it. The quality Indian universities and Indian to free them from the shackles of adding, there was a need to and financial report,” he said. of scientific research must be scientists are the most sought government control,” Mr Sibal raise the standard and quality “focused”, the Union Minister after, the Deputy Chief Minister In his closing remarks the said in his keynote address to of higher education in India. said with a clear accent on of Tamil Nadu, Mr. M K Stalin, Chancellor of SRM University, the Science Congress. quality assurance for higher said in his remarks going on In his welcome address, the Dr. T R Pachamuthu recalled education. The government On the research front, the to make the point that at this General President of the Indian the centrality of teaching and has been generous in financial government was planning to set Science Congress it was the Science Congress Association, research in the educational funding, the Minister maintained. up 14 'Innovation Universities' ‘right time’ to take stock of the Prof. K C Pandey called for system. 2010 | Spectrum | Volume IV Number II 3 Ratnika Sharma The scientific community Kasturirangan sees challenges to science in India and the Planning Commission at large faces certain key challenges in the policies in a changing economy area of policy formulation for the holistic development of the nation.