KOCHI: India is facing dearth of new talent in space research, and scientists and scientific institutions should engage with students more often to identify and groom a new crop of scientists, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) former chairman Dr G Madhavan Nair.
“The nation is facing a big challenge in the form of shortage of new talents in space research. Most of our achievements in the field are the contributions of scientists who entered the field in 1960s and 1970s,” he said after inaugurating a function here on Tuesday, in connection with the World Space Week observation. “Scientists and major science institutions in the country should find more time to interact with students. Currently, their activities are limited to conducting seminars and conferences, which is not enough,” pointed out Madhavan Nair.
“Through direct and frequent interaction, senior scientists should identify more students who are interested in science and space studies, and groom them as space scientists of the future. Currently, most of the students are going after IT and banking. An aptitude for science and space studies should be inculcated among them” said the former ISRO chief. A special feature of Indian space research has been focus on the common man. It has contributed a lot to the fields of tele-medicine and disaster management, among others, with support of the public. Meanwhile, the country’s achievements in space research are on par with developed nations,” said Madhavan Nair.
During an interaction, Madhavan Nair urged the students to stick to values and to learn every subject in depth to achieve success in life.
The programme, which was held at the GCDA Auditorium here, was organised jointly by the Vikram Sarabhai Science Park, GCDA and the Vikram Sarabhai Science Initiative.
‘state lagging in development’
Kerala is lagging behind the other states in development, Madhavan Nair remarked here. Speaking to mediapersons here, Madhavan Nair said, “what we need is a development-oriented government. I think the BJP would be able to form a development-oriented government”. “The SNDP Yogam has asked me to be patron of the Samatwa Munnetta Yatra. But, I have not taken a decision on it yet. The word Hindu means ‘all the people of India’,” he said.