Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'A great plan to promote science and technology' that was published in Newsband

A great plan to promote science and technology

Modi government’s outreach plans for scientists is indeed great. The idea to tap the talent pool of about 6,000 top scientists to give lectures to school and college students is a good initiative. Scientists dedicating 12 hours a year each to engage with students to impart scientific knowledge and inculcate a scientific temper in them is bound to go a long way in attracting young talent to science and grooming them. Such a step was absolutely necessary since India faces an alarming situation of steadily decreasing numbers of school students opting for science.

Several institutions and individuals in the U.S. engage in student outreach programmes and India has a great deal to learn from their experience. Excellent results can be achieved when scientists guide students and teachers to do real science that is open-ended, inquiry-based and driven by a sense of exploration — which only scientists are best-equipped to offer. This will foster critical thinking and imagination and impart skills of scientific investigation.

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s work of guiding students from a handful of engineering colleges to build satellites, which were eventually launched, is one of the best examples of imaginative student outreach programmes.

The Modi govt had started a really wonderful scheme. Media can play a big role in popularising science among students by devoting about 10% of space in the newspapers to Indian and international news on science and technology and news on scientists. Employment opportunities should be created for science students by establishing linkages between colleges and industries

This is a wonderful step towards bright future. Not only students but also faculty or management team can learn from the best brain of India. There will be more attraction towards research and new technology rather than just moving in the crowd of engineering/medical. And great part is all of us will be benefited. Adding to it, if some of important presentation can go to public via Youtube/social media, then it would be a great achievement as one can listen/watch the presentation again and again anytime, anywhere.

It is about time India moves on from superstitious thinking and obscurantism, and embraces rational thinking. We desperately need critical thinking in all areas of policy making. Evidence-based clear minded approach should be adopted instead of being slaves to ideologies. And the future generations should be equipped with critical thinking abilities.

There should be other major step taken which should include that career progression in the national institute should be based on real contribution to innovation and research and NOT seniority and reservation system. Even recruitment should be devoid of reservation system which is driving lot of talent to outside the country as evidenced by the work being done by Indians elsewhere. Thirdly, the remuneration to major contributors should be outside the normal grades. Fourthly, scientists need an environment of freedom with responsibility, people-focus with financial accountability.

Some of the major problems in Indian Science are too long gestation period till PhD, non-attractive fellowships, non-meritorious scientific recruitment, least accountability and fiefdoms of some big names. How can we attract and retain talent to science with such an environment? Most of the science is not done to give technology for country but to publish papers and get promotions and fame. How such self-serving science will get respect from society? Till date, the most contribution has come only through 3 organisations: Atomic Energy, ISRO and ICAR.