Dharwad
Former Director of Indian Institute of Science Professor Padmanabhan Balaram said basic science holds the key to scientific development and the need of the hour is to reintroduce the chapters on basic science in medical curriculum as it lays a strong foundation for new research.
Delivering the address at the fourth annual convocation of Indian Institute of Technology, he expressed his concern over basic science losing its sheen in India as several institutions are not promoting it.
Stressing the need for interdisciplinary research in science, engineering and industrial sectors, he said scientific and technological advancements are steering India as a global player. The time is ripe for the technocrats and medical professionals to contribute to the progress of the country, he asserted.
Prof Balaram said, over the last 20 years, the country has made giant strides in every field and the IITs have played a major role in this regard. He asked young technocrats to focus on preserving the Earth naturally and not harming the bio-diversity for personal gains. Failures are more common than success. Failures teach great things and hence, students should not get demotivated by facing failures but use them as an opportunity to reach their goals, Prof Balaram said. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that after the success of Chandrayaan-3, India is in the driver’s seat when it comes to space technology. The BJP-led NDA government has committed to building a new India and the responsibility is on the younger generation to utilise this opportunity and find a distinctive place for the country on the world map, he stressed. On the occasion, Joshi announced that the government is ready to fund coal gasification and rare earth elements research and development centre at IIT.
