AT THE sprawling campus of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, the 99th Indian Science Congress has concluded. The five-day-long scientific carnival with focal theme ‘Role of Science and Technology for Inclusive Innovation with special reference to the Role of Women’ was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. His inaugural speech stressed the need of a comprehensive policy and strategy to meet the dynamic requirements of accelerating growth and sustainability to foster inclusive development.

The three main focus areas should be food, energy and water security for the people, said the Prime Minister. He further added the necessity of focusing on neglected areas and urged the scientific community not to be preoccupied by the problem of rich and rather focus on the issues pertaining to the under privileged. He stressed the need of science to focus on green growth and sustainability.

The PM added that though we have been able to make strong footprints in global science publication scenario in peer reviewed journals on one hand and increasing the number of doctorates on the other there is much to be done. He also added the need to increase the total R&D expenditure to 2% of the GDP as against 0.9% in the 12th plan. He envisaged the need of improved investments in R&D sector, creation of new innovation ecosystems, alignment of the science and technology policies with the inclusive developmental needs of the nation, expanding basic science infrastructure and making conducive collaboration both at local and global arena.

Dr Singh stressed the need of strengthening applied sciences in solving the problem along with basic research. The human resource and infrastructure are the core areas that would be needed with more transparent inductions of talent pool to lead frontier areas of science. Finally he said that the, the pursuit of science is a process of unlocking the human mind. It is an exploration of the mystery, beauty and method in the universe by stretching the frontiers of our imagination. We need to invoke the power of science in every sphere of our economy and way of life.

The scientific fest was attended by as many as 20 Nobel Laureates about 500 foreign scientists across the globe along with the stalwarts in Indian science. It attracted 15,000 delegates. With deliberation, discussions and brainstorming, it had been enriching and thought provoking experience and enabling ideas in changing the face of science in tackling contemporary issues.

My personal views are more dedicated towards inculcating the spirit of scientific enquiry right at the early and formative years of schooling and demystifying science so as to make it fun filled joyous learning initiative. Creating a scientific society needs participation of all the stakeholders from academicians, corporates, NGOs and civil society at large. Instead of dividing academics quite early at the schooling in to humanities, economics, mathematics and science more flexible learning modules and encouragements to learn in interdisciplinary faculties should be followed.

We should set our own benchmarks and standards based on the needs and aspiration of our own society rather than blindly following the west. Innovation and creativity are not exclusively found in the people who have undergone formal education, a concerted attempt is the need of the hour to include holistically the nation as whole under the same umbrella. 0ur understanding should be deep rooted in the fact that the minds below the margins are not the marginal minds and they can contribute significantly in building a better world on one hand and preserving the traditional knowledge and practices too. Human resources are keys to nation development; let us embark on an odyssey of quest for conscience to actualize the big picture.