Enabling India to Shine in the World of Science
This may seem far removed from the system that is in place today but rather than dismiss this as an unattainable ideal, we should study and attempt to change the underlying economics of the issue.
In a developing country like India, it is natural that our youth will focus on cracking examinations and building a set of skills with which they can better compete in the job market. However, real progress comes from a holistic approach that juxtaposes the specifics of science with the imponderables of philosophy or the other humanities.
Currently, our research output - as measured by indicators such as published papers and patent filings - lags behind China, the US and several developed countries. The best way to improve our performance in this area is to work on developing a research-oriented mindset among students; to encourage them to spend an undergraduate semester engaged in pure research in an area of interest. As more students do this and collaborative projects take shape and grow within the scientific community, the quality and quantity of research produced will automatically go up.
How can we cultivate this research focus? I believe that success will depend on our being able to assure our youth of good career prospects and a decent quality of life even if they pursue pure or basic research.
We do have another advantage here in India: our socio-economic and developmental challenges. Paradoxical as this may seem, these barriers to our growth actually represent a significant opportunity and source of inspiration for researchers in the country. In a country where millions of people live in conditions of poverty and lack access to healthcare, safe drinking water and basic sanitation, science and technology has a deeply seminal role to play in improving overall quality of life.
This could be through applications in bio-informatics, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, nano-technology, computer science, civil, electrical or mechanical engineering. Whatever the field, there is probably something it can offer to improve living conditions and ultimately lower the costs of vital amenities and services such as food, housing, transportation and drugs. If we are able to successfully implement such transformative solutions within our borders, then it won't be long before we can export these to the world outside to solve pressing global crises in these areas.
We will know we have arrived when we have ten Indian institutions in the Global top 50, or when these institutions rank with the likes of MIT, Harvard, CalTech, Cornell, Cambridge, or Tokyo University in terms of their research output, citation index or patent development.
We can do it as long as we supplement our desire to get there with a single-minded focus on action and execution. We have an abundance of scientific talent; that has never been in doubt. It is now up to us to unleash its full potential.
