The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Call to improve science and technology infrastructure

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Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Call to improve science and technology infrastructure

Staff Reporter

“Science education, research passing through bad phase”

“The Central government through the DST had taken up the task of strengthening facilities for science education and research”

VANIYAMBADI: Education and research, particularly in the area of science, has been passing through a bad phase owing to non-availability of proper facilities, A.Mukhopadhyay, Adviser, Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, said here on Monday.

Inaugurating a national seminar on “Emerging Trends in Analytical Techniques” and DST sponsored lab of Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Islamiah College, Vaniyambadi, he said availability of good number of students who could pursue science as a career was also a matter of concern.

Dr.Mukhopadhyay said it was expected that post-globalisation, more job options especially in areas of research would be available in the industrial sector.

He said strengthening of science and technology infrastructure in the academic sector was important if India wanted to remain at the forefront of science. Though there were a total of 300 universities and 14,000 colleges in the country, uniformity and quality of education was a matter of concern apart from non-availability of students to pursue science.

The Central government through the DST had taken up the task of strengthening facilities for science education and research. In this endeavour, DST had spent about Rs.750 crore in improving postgraduate teaching and research. DST was also in the process of launching another innovative programme to tap million young minds for research especially in science education and research.

C.Velusamy, Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Vellore Region, said it was difficult for the rural college staff to actively participate in research work. Many facilities, accessible in the city colleges, were not available to the rural colleges. However, the staff of Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Islamiah College, have overcome all the handicaps and established their names as erudite guides.

Major Syed Shahabuddeen, Principal, Islamiah College, and Mansur Ahmed, Reader in Chemistry, spoke.

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