Basis of a developed Nation

We are living in a scientific, technological and knowledge-based world. Right from the time we wake up till we retire to bed everyday, we bring ourselves into contact with numerous devices and contrivances, which are contribution of science to us. We have become so accustomed and used to these objects that we often tend to ignore the impact of science on our daily lives.        

Our lives, society and culture are interspersed with the ideas and products of science and technology. Science, technology and innovation are intricately interwoven, invariably one explaining the other. ‘Science’ is the systematization of natural principles into an intelligible body of knowledge, which may be utilized or made visible into devices, instruments and contrivances by way of ‘technology’. The original combination of science and technology gives way to ‘innovation’. Today is a scientific age. Everything around us is science. We cannot simply do without it. Moreover, science and technology innovation has the power to transform the life of people and society at large.  

Science not only dispenses comfort and ease in life with its technology innovations, in abstract sense, it creates a psychological background for seeking the truth in more objective and cogent manner. The more a society embraces scienti fic temper for its conduct, the larger is the scope of it becoming free of irrational ideas, dogmatic thoughts and prejudicial notions. Everything becomes worth testable on the touchstone of logic and empirical establishment. In such a way, it diminishes the old established orthodoxy and creates a new, aware and liberal world order where everything unworthy of reason are discarded. 

On the flip side, many argues that it is the tool which demarcates the world into the richest vs the poorest, most powerful vs most deprived , most developed vs the least developed. But it is wrong to think that way. Science and technology innovation if embraced in both concrete and abstract sense, all such undesirable demarcations may be removed from the society and world order as a whole. India, too, has a rich history of science and technology innovation, right from the ancient times. We had such great men of intellect who contributed towards the betterment of mankind through their knowledge and innovation. To name a few:Aryabhatta was a great astronomer and mathematician of medieval times, Charaka and Susruta were the pioneers in the field of medicine and Kanad was one of the first to propose the Atomic Theory. In more recent years, scientists and mathematicians like Ramanujan, C.V. Raman, J. C. Bose, Homi Jehangir Bhabha, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. A. P.J . Abdul Kalam and many more such great names have brought laurels  and recognition to India for its scienti fic endeavour and imagination. To continue this constant thread of innovation, it is very essential to inculcate and imbibe such scienti c values in the young minds only then can our nation prosper and progress. Education as the most effective tool should impart this scienti fic temperament to our coming generation. A psychological conditioning needs to be done in this regard right from the beginning to chisel out the scienti fic proclivity in young minds and this process must be an integral part of the curriculum. The aim of science education should be to inculcate scienti fic temper, attitude, and skills as needed along with values such as rationality, open mindedness, logic, analysis, precision and ability to question and reason out. Keeping this aim in mind, entire teaching-learning process should revolve around objectivity and scienti fic principles. Right from primary schools, educators should focus on imparting scienti fic values among students by providing them such situations or problems which facilitate the development of basic values of curiosity, questioning and deriving solution. The role of teacher as a facilitator becomes important in this endeavour. The conventional approach of examination oriented teaching tends to block the expansion of creative and scienti fic domain of a child’s brain. Such practice should be disposed off. Instead, other methods such as “learning by doing”, activities, experiments, projects, science exhibitions/tours/excursions, preparation of innovative models etc., should be encouraged.

 An inherent love for science needs to be inculcated. Such students who show exceptional interest should be directed towards higher areas of science by providing them such platforms and scholarships to showcase their talent. Some such initiatives like the Jawaharlal Nehru Science Exhibition, Science Congress, Young Scientist Hunt etc. need to be promoted. To sharpen the creative and innovative ability of children is the dire need of the times. This progress can be accelerated by a conscious and strategic approach to the development of science and technology innovation.

 Moreover harm of science and technology has shaken the world, eg. the discovery of atomic bombs and accelerating climate change. Keeping this in view, there is a need to create a pool of human resource that is wise to utilize this tool for development only. Science and technology innovation as an attractive avenue should be promoted and an enabling ambience should be nurtured to inspire young minds to adopt science and technology innovation in both constructive and sustainable way.

"There are many hypotheses in science which are wrong. That’s perfectly all right; they’re the aperture to finding out what’s right. Science is a self-correcting process. To be accepted, new ideas must survive the most rigorous standards of evidence and scrutiny. --- Carl Sagan"