At a conference on `Public perception on benefits of nuclear energy on health care, industry and agriculture' held by the Indian Nuclear Society (INS) today, members of the scientific establishment said people don't appreciate them enough. "We're treated differently, as people from another planet. However serious our work and big our discoveries, no one from this community has become a celebrity like Madhuri Dixit or Sachin Tendulkar," said Anuradha, a nuclear scientist.

They were also unsure of what people thought of their achievements in the fields of agriculture and health care. "We have brought about sweeping changes in the lives of many people. But still that's what we feel," M S R Sarma, a scientist with the INS, said.

Many of the laypersonswho attended the conference said the uncommunicative nature of scientists was responsible for this. They complained that scientists were too aloof, which made it difficult for others to understand them.

Javed Siddiqui, a freelance writer, said: "The common man is ignorant of the goings-on in nuclear institutes in India. The recent explosions did make the people take a momentary interest in nuclear energy, but by and large they aren't interested." He also blamed the scientists for use of scientific jargon. "Scientists are averse to having their work simplified beyond a point, and people don't want to read things they can't understand," he said.