BANGALORE: Pure sciences never did have much of a standing with the State's students. This seems seems to be getting worse.

Last year, 2,100 students were admitted to the 37 colleges affiliated to Bangalore University for degrees in pure sciences. Of the 72 seats in each discipline in each college available to students, most colleges were able to fill only 25 seats each.

At Bangalore's Seshadripuram College, there were no takers for the Bachelor of Science (physics, chemistry and mathematics). At National College, Jayanagar, students did not apply for the degree course with chemistry, biology or zoology as subjects. Some colleges, such as Vidya Vahini College in R.T. Nagar, sought to discontinue their B.Sc. programme.

Better year

M. S. Thimmappa, Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University, says 2003 was a bit better for the sciences.

"The number of students for the sciences was marginally better," he says.

The lack of interest among students in science has professors and researchers in the city worried. "Something has to be done. Science is the foundation for most areas of work and we need to build a society strong in their basics," says a professor from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).

A professor from the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) says students are enthusiastic about a career in sciences when they are in high school, but during their final year, they opt for engineering because of societal and parental pressure.

"A career in sciences does not account for much today. People believe that an individual is taking up B.Sc. mathematics because he or she failed to get admission into an engineering college."

This is reflected in the fact that there are very few takers for the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana Science fellowships.

"Very few people are applying," she adds.

Mr. Thimmappa says students believe that a career in sciences is not growth-oriented. They feel they cannot land themselves a high-paying job with a multinational company with a degree in sciences.

The downfall of sciences has been brought about in part by the proliferation of engineering colleges and partly by the poor quality of teaching at science institutes, say academics.

It is easier to get into an engineering college than a science college.

The way out

Academics say premier engineering institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology need to open up to sciences. They should offer both streams of education and keep them porous so that people choose their options more freely.

Some suggest that more research centres such as the Chennai Mathematical Institute, supported by Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Ltd. Science Foundation need to be set up. "They do a lot of good research. It is cutting edge and as good as any other foreign university," says the professor from the Indian Institute of Science.

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