The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Indian Science Congress

January 3-7, 2004

Saturday, January 3, 2004, Chandigarh, India

I N D I A N S C I E N C E C O N G R E S S

A TRIBUNE SUPPLEMENT

Indian science: Time to be innovative

by Prof Yash Pal
Scientist, educationist and
social thinker
LET me start by talking of the visible aspects of Indian science. Some of the areas that come to mind are connected with a few institutions that have been major players for some time. There has been significant progress in the field of atomic energy, including a movement towards achieving a fast breeder reactor. Use of thorium as nuclear fuel might actually happen.

Exploring space with ISRO and hi-tech
by G. Madhavan Nair
Chairman, ISRO
INDIAN Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is a classic example to show how government investment in promoting high technology research can result in significant benefits that have social relevance. In the three decades, since the Department of Space was established and ISRO brought under this new department, the organisation has made remarkable progress in research and development leading to the establishment of operational state-of-art space systems.

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C5, with RESOURCESAT-1 onboard, in its final stages of preparation for launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota

India can do it, if we want it
by Prof. U.R. Rao
Chairman, PRL-Council, Department of Space, Former Chairman, ISRO
JUST prior to our independence in 1946, India witnessed one of the largest famines in her history, which made Mahatma Gandhi lament: "To the hungry God is bread". India has come a long way since then, thanks to the science and technology policies adopted which have resulted in our country becoming the second largest rice producer, fourth largest wheat producer and largest producer of milk and milk products. India’s progress in nuclear technology has been very significant.

Technology: Opportunity and challenge
by Dr R.A. Mashelkar
Director-General, Council of Scientific & Industrial research
A silent revolution is taking place in India. More than one hundred companies around the world have set up their R&D centres in India just during the last five years. The biggest would be the R&D centre of General Electric(GE) at Bangalore.

Indian science Hall of Fame

C.V. Raman	J.C. Bose	S.N. Bose	P.C. Ray	S.S. Bhatnagar
M.N. Saha	H.J. Bhabha	Chandrasekhar	Hargobind Khorana	Vikram Sarabhai

With science and confidence

by Prof M S Swaminathan
UNESCO Cousteau Chair in Echotechnology and Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU, who helped to shape our tryst with destiny during the first two decades of our independence, was firmly of the view that a strong scientific base and a scientific temper are the most powerful catalysts of both economic performance and social progress.

Frontier areas of S&T require a major boost
by Dr K. Kasturirangan
Former Chairman, ISRO
INDIA'S vision to transform into a developed nation by 2020 requires a major boost to science and technology, particularly in frontier areas. This is critical as S&T profoundly influences humankind and society and also the progress for the future.

Indian Science Congress: an appraisal
by Prof D.K. Sinha
Former General President, Indian Science Congress Association
ABOUT a decade from now the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) will be one hundred years old. The golden jubilee and platinum jubilee celebrations were somewhat different from what ISCA had in its silver jubilee counterpart. Perhaps, this may be attributed to the silver jubilee being held during pre-Independence days.

Moving forward with biotechnology
by Dr Manju Sharma and Dr Renu Swarup
The writers are Secretary and Director, respectively of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India
BIOTECHNOLOGY is one of the most important scientific and technological revolutions of the last Century which has greatly influenced various aspects of human life. The potential of Biotechnology is enormous, and has already offered new breakthroughs in healthcare, food, agricultural products and environmental protection.