Infosys Science Foundation 5Th Anniversary: Encouraging the Spirit of Research
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Encouraging the spirit of research Infosys Science Foundation Science is an endless frontier. It is a human activity without India needs to recreate the magic of the 1920s and 1930s limits. Advancing this frontier requires intensive and in Indian science, where we saw the likes of Srinivasa extensive fundamental research. India's contribution to Ramanujan, C. V. Raman, Meghnath Saha, S. N. Bose, this endeavor in recent times has been a matter of much J. C. Bose, etc., scale new heights, which surpassed the best concern. With around 16% of the global population, in the world. For this, we need to move on multiple fronts India's share in the world output of with speed and determination. scientific research publications is First, the future of science in India only 2%. Of course, some might say, “There is evidence to suggest will depend on getting the best that this 2% share is achieved with that young Indian scientists from minds in India to opt for science. only 0.5% of global spend on R&D. Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Caltech We have to place a very heavy But that is not of much comfort, and similar reputed institutions are emphasis on radical reforms in since other countries have moved returning to India. One is sensing school science education, while ahead much faster. a movement from brain drain to brain gain, to brain circulation, helped again changing the pedagogy of science Let us consider, for instance, by the attractive National Fellowships teaching methods, creating exciting R. A. Mashelkar India and China. In 1980, the science curricula, attracting the National Research Professor; Chancellor, that have been set up to bring back Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research; research papers from China were our brightest scientists. But, I must say, best talent for teaching science President, Global Research Alliance, one‑fifteenth of the research one of the best news for Indian science with special incentives for the most CSIR‑National Chemical Laboratory papers produced in India. By 2005, has been the Infosys Prize.” inspiring science teachers. research papers from China had Second, the best minds that study almost tripled! During 1995 – 2005, science should stay in science. the papers from India increased by 2.5 times, China's At the school‑learning level, there is a great enthusiasm had gone up ten‑fold. The R&D spending by China had for science. Indian students out‑perform those from increased from 0.8% to 2% of GDP by 2011. India has advanced nations in international science olympiads, continued to spend around 0.9% of GDP on R&D, over the winning several gold medals. past two decades. Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Unfortunately, these gold medalists do not stay in science. Although there are many concerns, there is plenty of value, but it is now the ‘most valued prize’ in India today. We have to do everything possible to see that they good news too. The INSPIRE program launched by the What is more, when there is an outcry that the corporate continue to love science, live science and live for science. Department of Science & Technology in India now draws world does not do enough for science in India, Infosys as close to a million bright young people into science, with an iconic corporate leader, has been able to send a strong Third, in science, technology and innovation, India has schemes and very attractive incentives to ensure that they signal that Indian science matters to us and that we want built physical as well as intellectual infrastructure but stay in science. For the first time, funding fundamental to matter more to Indian science. it needs to be made world‑class. We need to create an scientific research exclusively, a National Science and environment which provides for flexibility and freedom This book is valuable for several reasons. It provides us Engineering Research Board was created and it has to think and act. This means complete eradication with the essence of the great work of the Infosys Prize begun functioning. Five new Indian Institutes of Science, of bureaucracy, elimination of mediocrity, worship of laureates, in a language that is simple. It serves as a great Education and Research have been set up, with the excellence and rewards for performance with world‑class inspiration for budding scientists, while giving them a hope of these becoming world‑class centers of research. benchmarks. feel about the very best in Indian science. Finally, it also There is evidence to suggest that young Indian scientists projects before the rest of the world the best of Indian Fourth, we should remind ourselves always that teaching from Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Caltech and similar science done by its stars. without research is sterile. Education disseminates known reputed institutions are returning to India. One is sensing knowledge, research converts money into knowledge a movement from brain drain to brain gain, to brain I congratulate all those who are responsible for this and innovation converts knowledge into money. In the circulation, helped again by the attractive National elegant and impressive creation. When the history of Indian context, this connect between Saraswati (Hindu Fellowships that have been set up to bring back our Indian science is written, one can look at this book as one goddess of learning) and Lakshmi (Hindu goddess of brightest scientists. But, I must say, one of the best news with supreme archival and inspirational value. wealth) is missing. Every effort should be made to create for Indian science has been the Infosys Prize. that connect by linking education, research, innovation I have been privileged to be a jury member for the Infosys and entrepreneurship. This would mean some cultural Prize since the past four years. I have watched with pride shifts, where wealth creation through knowledge is valued this Prize grow and attain the status of a mini‑Nobel and supported through instruments such as incubators, prize. The selection is done by a selection committee technology parks, ‘ad’venture capital, innovation clusters, comprising global leaders in science. With ` 55 lakh as etc. These need to be provided on a scale and with a cash prize, not only is this the highest prize in rupee a quality that will prove game‑changing. Celebrating 5 years – Infosys Science Foundation Contents Quest for beautiful minds .................................. 2 Physical Sciences ......................................... 32 Thanu Padmanabhan .................................. 34 Engineering and Computer Science. 4 Sandip Trivedi ......................................... 35 Ashutosh Sharma ...................................... 6 Sriram Ramaswamy .................................... 36 Kalyanmoy Deb . 7 A. Ajayaghosh ......................................... 37 Ashish Lele ........................................... 8 Shiraz Naval Minwalla .................................. 38 V. Ramgopal Rao ...................................... 9 Social Sciences ........................................... 40 Humanities .............................................. 10 Abhijit Banerjee ....................................... 42 Amit Chaudhuri ....................................... 12 Upinder Singh ........................................ 43 Sanjay Subrahmanyam ................................. 13 Amita Baviskar . 44 Ayesha Kidwai. 14 Nandini Sundar ....................................... 45 Nayanjot Lahiri ........................................ 15 Pratap Bhanu Mehta ................................... 46 Life Sciences ............................................. 16 Raghuram G. Rajan .................................... 47 K. VijayRaghavan ...................................... 18 Arunava Sen .......................................... 48 Chetan E. Chitnis ...................................... 19 Aninhalli R. Vasavi ..................................... 49 Imran Siddiqi ......................................... 20 Of origins and journeys .................................... 50 Satyajit Mayor ........................................ 21 Rajesh S. Gokhale ..................................... 22 Bibliography ............................................. 51 Mathematical Sciences .................................... 24 Ashoke Sen .......................................... 26 Chandrashekhar Khare ................................. 27 Kannan Soundararajan ................................. 28 Manjul Bhargava ...................................... 29 Rahul Vijay Pandharipande ............................. 30 Infosys Prize @InfosysPrize [email protected] Awardees receive a gold medallion, a citation and a prize purse of ` 55 lakh www.infosys‑science‑foundation.com (increased this year from the previous, ` 50 lakh). Prof. Aninhalli R. Vasavi says, “The Prize will make a difference. Quest for beautiful minds It's come at the right moment when our work needed recognition and the Human enterprise and intellect has Infosys Prize funds will give us some assurance and @InfosysPrize been celebrated by the Infosys Science financial security.” Foundation through the Infosys Prize (the Prize), since 2009. The Prize has Exploring the world of ideas furthers Trustees of ISF grown in stature and is fast becoming our understanding of the universe. the most coveted award for researchers. We endeavor to honor such Unwavering support from ISF trustees remarkable minds. Srinath Batni, has helped the Prize reach its fifth year President, Board of Trustees, ISF and milestone. Member of the Board, Infosys Limited #InfosysPrize2013