PEP TALK: Douglas D. Osheroff with B.G. Sidharth, Director, B.M. Birla Science Centre, in Hyderabad on Monday.

HYDERABAD: Nobel laureate Douglas Dean Osheroff has called for encouraging children to consider careers in science, particularly physics and chemistry.

Answering a question on the declining interest in science at a press conference here on Monday, he said that careers in science should be made "exciting and appealing." He stressed the need for teachers to inculcate interest in science. Many children display interest in natural phenomena.

"But when they don't get answers the interest withers away," he added.

Prof. Osheroff, who is a physicist, pointed out that science alone could find answers to the series of challenges faced by mankind, such as global warming and diminishing natural resources. However, it was difficult to anticipate breakthroughs that will solve societal problems.

Praises Google

Even while lauding Google search engine as "amazing," he said "hands-on" science was better than computer-based teaching. Asked why only a few Indian scientists got the coveted Nobel Prize, he said that science was not a "cheap business" and the Indian scientists, though bright, did not have access to facilities and resources like their counterparts in the US for making experimental discoveries.

He said that more Nobel prizes were given for experimental work rather than theoretical work.

Later, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, presented Prof. Osheroff with the B.M. Birla Science Centre's Lifetime Achievement in Science Award.

The Nobel Laureate gave away B.M. Birla Science prizes to 14 young scientists for their contribution to mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Each award carries a cash prize of Rs.1 lakhs.

Presenting the award to Prof. Osheroff, Dr. Reddy hoped that he would be a source of inspiration to people from different walks of life. Prof. Osheroff later delivered the B.M. Birla Memorial Lecture on recent discoveries in physics. Director-General of the Science Centre B.G. Sidharth and JNTU Vice-Chancellor K. Rajagopal spoke.

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