THE RECENTLY HELD 94th Indian Science Congress at Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, provided an excellent platform for scientists to share their views on the future role scientists.  The speakers comprised national and international dignitaries, including Nobel Laurates. Here is a "who said what" at this rare congregation of world scientists.

Nobel Laureate Prof Hatmut Michel [Max Planck Institute for Biophysik, Frankfurt, Germany]
Prof Michel in his address on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, said the sun was emitting to earth more than 10,000 times of energy consumed by mankind. Hardly a fraction of sun’s energy was being exploited.  The energy generated by photovoltaic cells in deserts could easily serve 10 billion people a day, whereas we are only 6 billion now.  Large fields of super photovoltaic cells, set up in the earth’s major deserts, could provide unlimited cheap electricity. It could well be the answer to the world’s mounting energy crisis.  The electricity generated could be transmitted to the various countries using super-conducting cables. “We can install these fields in the deserts of Sahara, Mexico, Gobil Nevada and Central Australia and meet most of earth’s energy needs, thereby cutting down on harmful greenhouse gases,” he observed. 

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam [President of India]
President A P J Abdul Kalam listed out seven scientific challenges that called for an integrated solution to enrich human life. He said India must go in for nuclear power generation in a big way, using thorium-based reactors. “Thorium, a non fissile material, is available in abundance in our country.  Intensive research is essential for converting thorium to maximize its utilization to generate power through thorium-based reactors,” he said.  He added solar photo voltaic cell efficiency must be increased from the existing 15 per cent to 45 per cent, using silicon as a base with Carbon Nano Tube (CNT).  He also emphasized on the significance of proteomics discipline — study of proteins — as it helps in the understanding of basic biological processes, cellular functions and development of diaseses.  The President also outlined the importance of stem cell research to find a cure to many diseases. “It is a huge challenge for life scientists to develop an integrated vaccine to prevent AIDS in three years.”  Observing that earthquakes wreaked havoc to life and property, Dr Kalam called for elaborate research for accurately forecasting earthquakes using multiple parameters with precursors such as pre-shock conditions, electromagnetic phenomena, etc.

Dr B N Suresh [Director, Indian Space Research Organisation and also Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]
According to Dr B N Suresh, the Indian space program was set to cross another landmark with the successful launch of PSLV-C& launch and the capsule retrieval capability. The ISRO mission is a precursor to developing reusable satellite launch vehicle, which in turn means sending an Indian into space.  The January 10 launch of PSLV-C7 launch, described as a "multi mission flight" by ISRO, will put four satellites, including the country’s first Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE) satellite, into orbit. The SRE would be the platform for key micro-gravity experiments in space and demonstrate re-entry technology by a process of “de-boosting” the space capsule, so that it could return to earth’s atmosphere and thereafter parachute safely to land in the sea.

Weather scientists Dr M Rajeevan [National Climate Centre of IMD, Pune] and Dr B NGoswami [Director, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology] 
Two the country’s top weather scientists threw up their hands and said nothing has really changed over the years in the accuracy of climate predictions.  Dr.M Rajeevan said, “Monsoon remains a highly variable phenomenon and despite the regular updating of our operational models, this remains a hard thing to predict.” He said the Indian Meteorological Department followed the statistical model that relied on the “past rain patterns" to predict monsoons.  "Even though there are eight to ten predictors used in this method, the best set of predictors in terms of dependability is yet to evolve.  The department’s long-range forecast skill has not improved over the eight decades in spite of better understanding of monsoon variability and regular updating of the operational models.”

Dr B N Goswami stressed the need for evolving better forecast methods to help the farming community.  The bigger and more immediate challenge was to able to forecast the “lulls” and “monsoon breaks” after the monsoon sets in.  “We must come out with at least 20 days’ advance notice on these lulls because our farmers cannot afford an inactive monsoon during July when sowing starts,” he said.

Prof Rainer Kind [Geo Forschungs Zentrum, Geo Research Centre, Potsdam, Germany]
Prof Rainer Kind said though India is highly prone to seismic activity, it has not joined the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN). Several countries, including Mexico, Iran, Thailand, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Russia, have become FDSN members while China has sought membership. He added that the FDSN members had agreed to freely share data about seismic zones and seismic activities. India was accessing the FDSN data, but was averse to contributing data to it. The FDSN aims to develop common minimum standards in seismography, for example, bandwidth and record statistics. Prof Kind said a joint international mechanism would be a better bet to combat seismic-induced natural hazards than an isolated endeavour.

Prof Joseph Stiglitz [Nobel Laureate and noted economist]
According to Prof Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization was not just about growth in gross domestic product, but was about sustainable, democratic and equitable development. Development was about transforming the lives of people, not just transforming economies, he said, delivering a lecture on Making Globalization Work. While India and China had the resources to take advantage of the opportunities offered by globalization, many other developing countries were not in a position to do so. Prof Stiglitz underlined the importance of India continuing to maintain its programs for the weaker sections and the poor, health and education projects and rural development measures and said the state should not withdraw from these sectors.

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