GUWAHATI, Feb 15 � The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Director Dr Ramesh Chandra Deka today made an appeal to the scientists engaged in all spheres of science, including medical sciences, to concentrate on developing cheaper indigenous tools to improve quality of life in this part of the globe. He was talking to this correspondent on the sidelines of the 55th annual technical session of the Assam Science Society held at the Gauhati University (GU) campus here.
He said that unless there is improvement in the health and education sectors of a society, it is not going to attain its full vigour to make a forceful onward march towards progress.
Describing the atmosphere in the State for scientific pursuits as very encouraging, Dr Deka, who is also an internationally acclaimed Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) expert, said that the 269 research papers being presented in the Science Society technical session have lent credence to that belief.
The people of NE region are in no way alienated from the mainland of the country and they should take part in nation building activities in a growing manner. The scientific community of the region should come forward for more research works. They should also go for conducting research activities in the emerging areas like behavioural science. Funding agencies are also there to support them in such activities.
Behavioural science is significant for the region because of the presence of various ethnic groups here, said the AIIMS Director.
Another important thing the scientists of the region should keep in mind, he said, is that scientific knowledge should be taken to the application level so as to benefit the common people. For the purpose, the academia and the industries should work in tandem, he said.
On creating an atmosphere for development of scientific temperament, he said that honesty and integrity should be inculcated in the young minds. The families should imbibe in the children the core values and the urge to acquire value-based knowledge. Core values are much important for the proper development of a society, he said.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Science Society technical session earlier, Dr Deka laid stress on identifying the talents among the students and to stimulate them towards science. In today�s world, education and science form the backbone of a society, he said.
Science is a continued effort to produce knowledge. But mere core knowledge de-linked from the basic cultural values is meaningless, he said and called upon the GU authorities to introduce technology and society-based courses.
Addressing the function, GU Vice-Chancellor Prof OK Medhi made an appeal to the Science Society to give serious thought for popularizing science education in the State.
The ground reality concerning science education in the academic institutions of the State is somewhat disappointing. For, he said, only in 48 colleges out of the 230 affiliated colleges of the University, science courses are taught.
The function was also addressed by Science Society president Prof Dilip Kumar Choudhury, among others.
In the technical sessions held at nine different departments of the University, 67 papers were presented on topics related to physical science and engineering and 32 papers were presented on topics related to medical and Ayurvedic sciences.
On the topics related to mathematical sciences, 33 papers were presented, while 57 papers were presented on topics of biological science, 26 papers on agriculture and veterinary science topics, 34 papers on chemical science topics and 20 papers on topics related with earth and environmental sciences were presented in the session.
