Zee Media Bureau/Salome Phelamei
Kolkata: Renowned Indian physicist and nuclear scientist R Chidambaram, stressed for India’s participation in critical science research while speaking at Calcutta University’s annual convocation in Kolkata on Friday.
Referring to the recent path-breaking discovery of the “Higgs Boson” or “God particle”, the scientist advocated India’s contribution in global mega-science projects such as origins of the universe.
“We need excellence in basic research... including basic research that is directed towards needs of industry and society in long term,” Chidambaram said.
“As a civilised country, we must also participate in global mega science projects aiming to find out, for example, the ultimate structure of matter or the origin of the universe,” he added.
The scientist, who is currently serving as the Principal Scientific Adviser to the federal Government of India also said the country needs to be a part of global mega-science projects.
“India must make its contribution to the origin of universe studies”, Chidambaram said.
Earlier this year, researchers operating the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator at the Centre for European Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva confirmed that a particle discovered in it is indeed the so-called Higgs Boson, a key element in scientists’ theories explaining the makeup of all the matter around us.
Alluding to India’s role in the epoch-making discovery, Chidambaram said the nation, through the department of atomic energy’s RRCAT-Indore contributed $40 million worth of high-tech equipment, numerous components and some advanced grid software.
Chidambaram has been closely associated with India’s nuclear energy programme, including the second series of nuclear tests at Pokhran (Rajasthan) in 1998.
“India has to go for nuclear energy in a big way... all energy based options are important for India. There must be a balance between environmental protection and imperatives of economic development.”
Enhancing academia-industry interactions, use of virtual classrooms and bettering manufacturing skills need to be addressed, he said.
With IANS inputs
