Support for basic research needed: Expert

Manipal, Karnataka, Jan 17 (UNI) Renowned cosmologist and astrophysicist Prof Jayanth V Narlikar today emphasised the need for suitable support for basic research in the country to unearth plenty of untapped talent.

Delivering the 24th T A Pai memorial lecture at the founder's day celebrations of T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) on 'Learning to live with science and technology' here, he cautioned that to ignore basic research at this stage when India had made remarkable progress in science over the last few decades would only mean that the nation would have to keep on importing new ideas from abroad. Basic research did not require heavy financial outlay when compared to its rich potential.

Stating that the society might suffer serious dangers due to continuing certain areas of scientific research, he said ''but this did not mean that we turn away from the scientific path and regrasp the age-old superstitions which have been proven to be invalid. The developed nations have recognised and not only supported science in general, but also continued to encourage basic research which at first sight may appear useless, but may lead to useful applications in the long run.'' Prof Narlikar underscored the need for a lot of public discussion between scientists, leaders and decision makers in the society whenever any new scientific discovery took place or was in the offing.

Lamenting that science communication and science journalism were much neglected in the country, he called upon journalists to probe the credibility of scientific claims.

On superstitious beliefs, he noted that despite laudable efforts being made in an organised manner both in and out of Government, ''we have not made a significant dent in the wall of superstitions, nor is it confined to villages only.'' UNI