The second coming of science

 

 

MUMBAI: Computers and commerce may attract the best talents today, but pure science is all set to make a major comeback.

 

The setting up of the Indian Institutes of Science, Education and Research (IISERs) in Kolkata and Pune have added brand value to the study of science, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announcing more IISERs in Chandigarh and other Indian cities in the near future. "The IISER course has an integrated, inter-disciplinary research-oriented approach, which will push the value of science graduates in the job market, and bring them high salaries,” says Dr K N Ganesh, director of IISER, Pune which is due to be inaugurated on August 16. 

 

As for employment, there are openings galore. “The pharma industry, for example, will require at least 1,000 PhDs in the next five years. A lot of MNCs are going into contract research, similar to outsourcing, and they will also need a huge number of science graduates and PhDs. Recently, GE, Bangalore and Syngenta, Goa  hired a large number of PhDs," adds Dr Ganesh.

 

The infrastructure exists in the country’s premier labs, but there is a shortage of manpower. “The CSIR, Department of Atomic Energy, defence and other government agencies have extremely sophisticated labs with the capacity for very good research. They need talented science graduates to run these labs,” says Dr Arvind Kumar, director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research's Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE).

 

“Science is the starting point for technology. A lot of nano-technology now needs to be understood," feels Dr Vijay Singh, national coordinator, Science Olympiads at the HBCSE, which promotes the study of science right from the school level. “The IISERs are like the IITs of science. There’s a feel-good factor and prestige associated to them. That will naturally attract students.”

 

 

Mehul Tikekar, KJ Somaiya College, Mumbai

 

"If you like the subject and want to go into research, pure science is really good, though not as financially rewarding as IT or engineering," says Mehul Tikekar, who is just back from the 37th International Physics Olympiad held in Singapore.

 

Mehul says the Olympiad brought him closer to Physics, and made him see the experimental aspect of the subject. Going back to Physics after completing his engineering degree is certainly an option for him. 

 

Mehul loves to read, play games on his computer and do a spot of gardening in his spare time. 

 

Neha Rambhia, Jai Hind College, Mumbai

 

“Back to pure science is a posibility for all of us. Whenever I want, even after I complete my engineering course, I can always go back to Physics,” says Neha Rambhia, bronze medal winner at the International Physics Olympiad held from July 8 to 17.

 

She says the Olympiad showed her a whole new aspect of Physics. “I had no idea what experimental Physics was like. I always liked Physics. I love it even more now,” she says. “Programmes like NIUS allow us to carry on research irrespective of what we are doing. So at any time, I may move back and do a PhD in Physics.”