SPOTLIGHT ON INDIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY insideview ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE HAS DESIGNS ON TOMORROW’S SCIENCE ECOSYSTEM TODAY A conversation with KRISHNARAO APPASANI, vice-chair and chief executive officer, Science City of

Science and technology are vital to India’s development and rapidly growing economy. Considering its size, India doesn’t count many scientists in its population, and home-grown researchers often take positions elsewhere. To move from this ‘brain drain’ to ‘brain regain’, Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-trained molecular biologist Krishnarao Appasani has returned (after three decades in the USA) to his home state to make real his vision of having three science cities in Andhra Pradesh, each aiming to attract young Indian people into science and provide opportunities for them to stay.

What is the inspiration by an architect who is a son I BELIEVE museums, learn about science, for these science cities? and brother of Nobel laureates. THAT ANDHRA and perhaps think about The idea started in December I believe that Andhra Pradesh PRADESH COULD choosing science as a career. 2014 when I met with the then could be the leading region in BE THE LEADING This includes supporting the Union Minister of State for India for science by 2025, which REGION IN INDIA education of girls and young Science & Technology & Earth could boost India’s reputation FOR SCIENCE. women in science; we want to Sciences, Y. S. Chowdary. There worldwide. If successful, these improve the gender ratio. are science cities elsewhere science cities could extend sites, and has around 100,000 in India. However, while these across India. visitors every day. It is on the What is needed to make these encourage and promote science, The first science city will be Seshachalam Hills, whose seven dreams become reality? they do not include a platform in , with a further two in peaks are said to represent the Now that the concept is for innovation-based education Amaravati and . seven heads of Adisesha. In approved by government, and research. The structure will be similar honour of this, we are creating the next step is to create After the minister and I across each: a science- seven different museums around the masterplan for the first discussed science cities ‘from promotion cluster with seven Tirupati, each designed by a science city, which we expect concept to execution’ over museums; an innovation cluster different world-class architect to complete within the next six many meetings and presented including research institutes and representing a different country. months, and then we can start to his secretaries, they incubation centres in biomedical Each museum will have a building. We aim to have this recommended me to the chief and physical sciences; and a different focus: arts and sciences; finished in the next five years. minister of Andhra Pradesh, science-dissemination cluster, air, space and defence; media; I would hope to have all Nara Chandrababu . In with a convention centre and transport; human evolution and three science cities up and June 2016, Naidu recruited accommodation including anthropology; rainforests and running ten years from now. me to head up the project around 300 bedrooms. The biodiversity; and a children’s The timing for Amaravati and under his stewardship. It will convention centre will initially museum and planetarium Visakhapatnam may depend be a non-profit, government house around 5,000 people, developed with an astrophysicist. on the political arena, as there statutory autonomous body with potential to expand to will be assembly elections in supported by the state and the 20,000. Its main role will be How are you involving the Andhra Pradesh in April or May central government. Alongside for scientific congresses, but next generation? 2019, but I am confident that their funding, we will also raise it could also be used for large In 2014, part of Andhra whichever party gets in, this money, and seek sponsorship social gatherings and other Pradesh was separated off to project will continue to create from philanthropists, once we celebrations, to generate create state, which the first ‘science ecosystem’ in have a detailed masterplan. revenue. All buildings will be includes the capital , the nation. created to high environmental losing us a lot of scientific How are the plans taking shape? and sustainability standards. talent. Because of this, and the My vision is to develop the first I haven’t seen this model emigration of many scientists science city infrastructure in anywhere else in the world. to the USA and Europe, we India, creating a hub for science want to encourage and educate and technology in buildings Why do seven museums a new generation of young designed by the world’s greatest feature in the designs? scientists. The many pilgrims to architects. I am excited that the Tirupati is home to the the temple in Tirupati include ‘science-centric and eco-centric’ Temple, one of children and young people, and masterplan will be developed the holiest Hindu pilgrimage we hope that they will visit our

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