Developing a scientific culture is no mean task
The appointment of biologist Krishna swa my Vi jay Rag havana s the principal scientific advisor to the Government of India has come at a crucial time. On one hand, the country is progressive ly moving towards scientific temperament and on the other, there is a section of people, including ministers, still bogged down by mis conception and superstition. UnionScienceand Technology Minister Harsh Va rd han recently claimed that physicist Stephen Hawking once said :“Our Vedas might have a theory superior to( Albert) Einstein’ s law E= MC 2."
A major responsibility for researcher-turned-administrator Vi jay Rag ha van will be spread to the word of science across the country, supported by his vast knowledge and experience.
The geneticist and biologist will succeed nuclear physicist Raj ago pal a Chi dam bar am, who remained the position for more than16years. VijayRaghavan served as secretary, Department ofBiotechnology, sinceJanuary 2013.
“Heisone of the most exceptional scientists in the country who commands a lot of respect in the scientific world ,” said K iran Mazu md ar-Shaw, chairperson and managing directorofBiocon. Shecalled Vi jay Rag ha van" a global citizen ".
“He is an ideal choice. He has already played an important role as secretary at the Department of Biotechnology. Heisagreat ambassador when it comes to science and technology ,” she said.
Many remarkable works that Vi jay Rag ha van spear headed may have gone unnoticed, but bringing Fold scope, also known as the 50cent microscope that can be assembled from simple components, including a sheet of paper and a lens, toIndiais laudable. Heisactive on Twitter with over 3,500tweetstohis credit.
Ittookatweetfrom himtoStanford University professor Ma nu Pr aka sh to come to India with his paper microscope. These sturdy fold able micro scopes were distributedamong undergraduate students by the Department of Biotechnology, then headed by Vi jay Rag ha van.
TheIIT-Kanpuralumnus believes that science and technology could be the fulcrum of change in agriculture, health, environment and development. “Connect science to society and society toscience,” hesaid. He also called for democrat is a ti onto the access to science, so that citizens from any background can access science and technology opportunities, andlead.“One’s language should not be a hurdle, butanadvantage. Thebestof science should be accessible in any of our languages ,” said the scientist, who was conferred the PadmaShriin2013. He helped setup of the Bengaluru-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) withhis mentor(atTata Instituteof Fundamental Research) Obaid Siddiqiin1992. Oneof thefinestbio laboratories in the country, theNCBScreateda science museum last year to commemorate its silver jubilee, which tells stories about the biologicalpast, withthepassage of time etched in physical rocks and metaphorical fossils.
VijayRaghavan, whoisalsoa Royal Society fellow, has made note worthy contributions towards the understanding of muscles development by experimenting with common fruit flies. In particular, hisworkhas contributed to the knowledge pool of the molecular and cellular steps in the growth off light muscle.
Recently, a lot of officials in power have made statements which are not only unscientific but also ridiculed on the social media.
Challenging Darwin’ s Theory ofEvolution, Unionminister Sat yap al Singh had claimed that it was scientific ally wrong and needed to be changed in school and college curriculum. Raj as than Education Minister Va sud ev Dev na ni broke the internet with his statement that cows inhale and ex hale oxygen.
Hence, the post of principal scientific advisor to the government holds great significance as the country is facing a shortage of rational thinkers who could take the lead and help build an economy that is technological ly propelled.
Vi jay Rag ha van’ s selection as the principal scientific advisor is a breath of fresh air which could leverage our scientific ecosystem towardsexpansion.
His selection as principal scientific advisor could leverage our scientific ecosystem towards expansion