Scientifically speaking

Of schools, students and Science...!

Of schools, students and Science...!

Shashank Purandare

Last week, I had an opportunity to visit Sri Maa Vidyalay, Thane. I was invited as a chief guest to inaugurate 24th Interschool Science projects competetion and a Science exhibition. The school is run by Sri Maa foundation under their spiritual guru, Sri Tara maa. I was informed that the school teaches Yoga and meditation at primary school level itself. 5th standard onwards, the students are allowed to take up their individual interests.

I also had an opportunity to interact with school and foundation office bearers, and trustees. The Foundation is also celebrating its Golden Jubilee. They do lot of work all over the country. For those interested, details are available on their website.

My interest of course, was purely scientific, and it was a good opportunity to interact with some of the students. Of course, during such function, one gets limited opportunity to interact with the students directly, which is a pity. A more one on one with the students was desirable. But then, you have a limited time at hand.

As I mentioned in my speech there, you need to be curious about everything. You should observe things happening around you and come to your own conclusions about them and not be guided by google. This is is the first step if students want to learn and understand Science. To some extent, proliferation of internet has killed the curiousity instead of the cat, as the saying goes.

Unlike our generation, the new kids get their hands on computers and laptops very early. Programming languages and coding is taught at an early age, unfortunately, at the cost of traditional languages. While students are becoming adept at using hi-tech devices, traditional language skills are diminishing. Basics like grammer are missing. The suttle nuances of writing are lacking. Reading habits are dying. A recent study by ASER has highlighted the absence of basic understanding in school children.

Teachers play an important role in child development. But we lack good teachers. Teachers need to provide solid basic fonudation to students. The segment from class 5 to 10 is very critical. This is where a child can be groomed. We need to produce good students who have sound and strong basic knowledge and not just students who can crack competetive exams. The mushrooming of integrated professinal courses has really left school as a mere spectator. Parents, your son visits the school only once a week. He spends remaining six days in a class where you pay a couple of lakhs per anum. Why have the schools, then? Thankfully, I was told tha Sri Maa Vidyalay does not support integrated course.

Science encompasses basic research and technology. What we are today is due to the scientific and technological advances made by human race in the last 50-60 years. Agricultural revolution, industrial revolution, the advances in semiciconductor technology, computers and information technology, genetic engineering were the stepping stones on which todays pathways are built. Fundamental research was the root from which thse trees flourished.

I spent 37 years at the Tata Istitute of Fundamental Research, which is a premier institute in India carrying out fundamental research in Physics and other scientific fields. Unfortunately, fundamental research in India is dying a slow and painful death in India. After an initial thrust by Dr. Homi Bhabha, meaningful scientific output from India is drying. We missed the bus during 70s in semiconductor era. We missed the solar revolution. IITs were setup to provide technological manpower to this country. It only helped the United states. We cannot produce our own semiconductor chips. Our solar panels are imported. A country like Germany, which gets sunlight for a limited number of hours, produces most of its electricity by solar power. And where are we??? We only assemble computers and mobiles. We can only use AI moules produced by others, mostly to generate fake videos and fake narratives.

Government spending in R & D is going down every year as evident in this year's budget. On top of that, allocated money is also left unused every year. There is a huge disconnect between the government and ground reality. The scientific advisers and the politicians are equally to be blamed for this.

The less I talk about the edication policy, the better. It is necessary to have a single board of education instead of the ICSE,CBSE and local SSC boards. This phenomena of 99% marks in SSC and HSC exams needs to be halted.

Finally, the main reason for writing this article. The students mainly in class 5 to 10. Friends, life is tough and is going to be tougher. What you are going to learn in school today will provide a basic foundation, but that is all. What you learn today will become obsolete in five years due to the advent of Artificial intelligence. You will need to upgrade your skills constantly. The world is changing fast, too fast for you to comprehend. You need to keep pace with it. Difficult, but can be done. And you know why? Because, AI will never match human intelligence, come what may! Because, AI can never have human emotions. It cannot laugh or cry or shout with joy. It will never grow conscience. It will never differentiate between right from wrong!!!! So, strenghten your foundation, and whatever you want to do in life, choose wisely.

Shashank Purandare 05/02/2025