Create right atmosphere for women scientists to deliver: Kalam

Bangalore, Aug 21 (UNI) Noting that science has no gender barrier, President A P J Abdul Kalam today exhorted the top management in science institutions and the Government to create a conducive atmosphere for enabling women scientists and technologists to maximise their contribution to national development.

Inaugurating a national seminar on 'Women: Science and Technology', organised by the Centre for Women's studies of Bangalore University here, he said the number of women scientists world over was growing at a faster pace and it was high time impediments that might come in the way of harnessing the vast pool of brilliant, hardworking and dedicated knowledge power of women, were removed in the country.

Outlining the problems faced by women who chose a career in science, the President said that despite the responsibility of rearing family and the societal attitude towards them, women scientists could play an key role in national development.

Mr Kalam paid rich tributes to the contributions of four eminent Indian women scientists -- Rohini Devi, seniormost woman scientist in DRDO; Geeta Varadan, Project Director, Special Projects, ISRO; Prof Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath, Director, National Brain Centre; and Dr Manju Sharma, Director, IIAR, Ahmedabad, besides Nobel laureate Madam Curie.

The first citizen said he had developed a keen interest in their success story in the field of science and studied their professional profile. While the experience of Ms Devi and Ms Varadan indicated that the organisations in which they had worked provided an environment for growth irrespective of the gender, Prof Ravindranath could succeed in specified areas because of the right type of mentors she got. Dr Sharma's life in science management provided an important message to the nation as to how top management in science institutions and Government have to be generous in recognising and nurturing women scientists.

''This study has revealed that societal attitude towards women in science may lead to certain corrective actions,'' he said.

Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and State Higher Education Minister D H Shankara Murthy also shared the dias.

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