Interdisciplinary Science is Future, Expert Tells Researchers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
It is vital for researchers to acquire repertoire knowledge and skills in a wide variety of areas and systems as interdisciplinary science is the future, said Dr J N Moorthy, Director, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, today.

Dr Moorthy was delivering a lecture on ‘Interdisciplinary Science—An Emergent Paradigm,’ marking the National Science Day at Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (BRIC-RGCB) here.

BRIC-RGCB Director Prof Chandrabhas Narayana presided over the function. The theme of the National Science Day 2024 is ‘Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science and Innovation for Viksit Bharat’.

Urging researchers to embrace independent thinking, Dr Moorthy said they should have an excellent proven profile in their core domain as well as the ability to communicate across disciplines with domain knowledge and languages of other disciplines.

Dr Moorthy, a noted chemist and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardee, said scientific leaders need to be fostered with good education, and India has the third largest scientific and technical manpower in the world.

“India is the biggest provider of generic medicines in the world with 20 per cent of the volume of global generic drug exports. It is the result of the talent pool of scientists, researchers and engineers available here,” he added.

In his address, Prof Narayana said since the country aims to become a developed nation, the younger generation needs to develop their scientific endeavours and contribute significantly to lead science and technology in the world.

In 1986, the Government of India designated February 28 as National Science Day to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by Nobel Laureate and physicist CV Raman.

Researchers and staff of RGCB, as well as graduate and post-graduate students from various institutions, also attended the day-long National Science Day programmes at the institute.

Prizes were distributed to winners of the quiz competition and the expo conducted as part of the event.