Mythology Vs Science
Creating a better climate for research and innovation is a must for India's development
Vice-President Hamid Ansari has highlighted the dearth of scientific temper in the country . His comments come just as the 2016 Indian Science Congress has drawn many laments on the state of Indian science. In fact, for the last two years presentations on topics such as the invention of airships in ancient India have created a disappointing, disturbing image. In a damning indictment, Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has described the congress as a circus where very little science is discussed.While it can be argued that the congress should be open to diverse streams, such openness can't come at the cost of a genuine scientific ethos. As Ansari has observed, intolerance towards attempts to separate belief from scientifically verified facts leads to the occult being dubbed as scientific. Plus, there's empirical evidence to sug gest that the roots of Indian science are worryingly weak. The country is yet to achieve its goal of spending at least 2% of GDP on scientific research. Around 59% of secondary schools don't have an integrated science laboratory . And according to 2013 figures Indians filed only 17 patents per million population compared to 4,451 in tiny South Korea.
These metrics stand at odds with government policies like Make in India. As pointed out by Nobel winning physicist David Gross, attempts at manufacturing high-end products in India won't yield the desired benefits unless backed by sustained investment in basic science right from school level to higher education. That not a single Indian institute of higher learning figures in the top 100 ranking of world universities is a poor comment on the quality of education and research in the country . An even greater tragedy is that most Indian students today consider the sciences only as academic streams to high-paying corporate careers. Overall, the science pedagogy is poor and the scientific temper diluted.
The state of Indian science is actually a direct reflection of India's general education woes. Lack of meritocracy in educational institutions shows up in poor research. Focus on producing degree holders kills innovation. Against this backdrop, a framework for audit of scientific departments as suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is just the first step. What's required next is an overhaul of science education to create an environment that encourages research and innovation. Only then can Indian scientists meaningfully contribute towards the development goals of the country .
Source: Times of India, 12-01-2015
These metrics stand at odds with government policies like Make in India. As pointed out by Nobel winning physicist David Gross, attempts at manufacturing high-end products in India won't yield the desired benefits unless backed by sustained investment in basic science right from school level to higher education. That not a single Indian institute of higher learning figures in the top 100 ranking of world universities is a poor comment on the quality of education and research in the country . An even greater tragedy is that most Indian students today consider the sciences only as academic streams to high-paying corporate careers. Overall, the science pedagogy is poor and the scientific temper diluted.
The state of Indian science is actually a direct reflection of India's general education woes. Lack of meritocracy in educational institutions shows up in poor research. Focus on producing degree holders kills innovation. Against this backdrop, a framework for audit of scientific departments as suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is just the first step. What's required next is an overhaul of science education to create an environment that encourages research and innovation. Only then can Indian scientists meaningfully contribute towards the development goals of the country .
Source: Times of India, 12-01-2015
