Higher studies on basic sciences stressed

Udupi, Mar 15 (UNI) The 15th annual conference of the Indian College Forum (ICF) today stressed the urgent need of motivating and inculcating interest among the youths to take basic sciences for their higher studies.

In his keynote address at the two-day conference here, Prof M Anandakrishnan, Chairman of IIT, Kanpur, said there was a mad rush for the much hyped Information Technology (IT) and a few other similar areas by the youth, neglecting the most important branch of basic sciences.

Citing the examples, he said the study of chemical engineering, which had attained the prime importance once, lost its attraction due to collapse of chemical industries in the world.

The situation was already on the corner for the similar fate for IT in view of the large scale retrenchment of IT professionals already taking place in the industry, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anuj Sinha, Head, NCST, Department of Science and Technology (DST), said students should be empowered and properly guided to pursue their choice of education based on their aptitude and not under any influence.

In the 11th plan, the government had given a thrust to basic science and budgetary provision was made for providing scholarships for students, he said.

UNI MA DS VD RAI2119