P. Balaram, former Director of IISc Bengaluru, greeting Dipankar Banerjee, Director of IIST, during the All India Science Conference held at the Tagore theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
P. Balaram, former Director of the Indian Institute of Science, shared insightful thoughts on how science shapes our world at the All India Science Conference in Thiruvananthapuram. He inspired young scientists to embrace both the wonders and responsibilities of their discoveries.
Speaking to researchers, students, and academics, he discussed the ways that science influences society. He began by exploring the question: What is science? He quoted German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Nature! We are surrounded and embraced by her.” This quote reflects the core idea of science as the study of our natural world.
A visitor looks through a telescope kept for demonstration at the All India Science Conference held at the Tagore theatre in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Prof. Balaram mentioned the idea of ‘scientific temper’ introduced by Jawaharlal Nehru, which promotes a logical approach to understanding the world. He acknowledged, however, that scientists sometimes stray from this ideal.
He highlighted how the 20th century witnessed incredible scientific advances. Notably, he discussed key figures like Dmitri Mendeleev, who contributed to chemistry, and Charles Darwin, whose work in biology laid the foundations of modern science. He also pointed out the groundbreaking discovery of DNA’s structure in 1953, which sparked the biotechnology revolution.
But it wasn’t all triumph. Prof. Balaram also addressed the negative impacts of science. He discussed how technologies like DDT, once seen as miracles, led to serious environmental harm. He raised essential questions about the use of dual-purpose technologies, such as nuclear science, which can serve both peaceful and military ends.
He urged modern scientists to balance their quest for knowledge with ethical considerations, especially in light of pressing issues like climate change and artificial intelligence. According to him, the future of science needs to be rooted in innovative research that is also responsibly applied.
During the event, Dhrubajyoti Mukherjee, president of the Breakthrough Science Society, chaired the session. Other notable speakers included Dipankar Banerjee, the Director of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, and several distinguished leaders in the scientific community.
Published – February 08, 2025 07:01 pm IST
