Lab tours to attract students to science

With students largely shunning theoretical sciences in favour of a career in the field of technology...

With students largely shunning theoretical sciences in favour of a career in the field of technology,the Government of India is working on an ambitious plan to take thousands of Class X and Class XII passouts from across the country,together with their parents,on a guided tour to top science laboratories. The aim: to inspire the students to pursue a career in education and research in basic sciences.

The Centre may also give scholarships and other incentives to students who choose to pursue higher education in basic sciences.

One per cent of the total Class X & XII passouts from all Boards in the country will be chosen for this. We want to take the parents along because they are one of the main motivators for students at that age. We want to showcase the ideal opportunities in sciences, Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan told The Indian Express.

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According to the minister,the objective is to develop the interest of students in basic sciences like physics,chemistry,biochemistry or microbiology,so that they could look beyond a career in engineering and medicine. Lakhs of engineers are being churned out from different institutes every year,but there are not as many jobs available,said Chavan.

Successive governments have been concerned about this declining interest in basic sciences apparently due to the availability of lucrative employment opportunities in engineering,IT,commerce,finance,etc. The employment opportunities in higher education and research in basic sciences are,on the other hand,not considered rewarding.

In his address at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore last December,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed concern about the decline in the quality of research carried out in our institutions. There is no reason why we cannot achieve the same degree of excellence when it comes to basic science and research, the PM had said. He had termed the declining interest among todays youth in pursuing science as a career as disturbing.

The Science & Technology Ministry has also been studying the reasons for the under-representation of women at top rungs in scientific establishments. Out of 37 labs of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),not one is headed by a woman. We are looking into it, Chavan,who recently held an interaction with 30 top women scientists.,said.