Science deserves more funds, assert protesting scientists
Over 300 scientists, students, teachers and faculty members of the science, technology and research field protested with a ‘March for Science’ on Wednesday to change the perspective of both people and the government towards science and its importance. This protest in different cities of India aimed to change public opinion, and include evidence-based study to regain the importance of science and increase funding for this field.
The protesters marched silently from August Kranti Maidan at Grant Road to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan displaying placards, banners and distributing handbills to everyone on the street. The placards communicated strong messages like ‘Science is a Cure for Bullshit,’ ‘Science Matters,’ ‘Scientific Temper is the key to progress’ and ‘Don’t believe, Seek evidence.’ The aim was to draw attention to uplift the value of the field of science and research and initiate evidence-based study right from school education.
Students are forced to study what they can but not what they want. Valay Agarwal, a student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, said, “We cannot do the kind of research that we want to do because there are no funds for it. So, we are compelled to do what can be done with the available resources.”
While, Abhijit Majumdar, a professor at IIT-B, said, “The students have to waste their academic year because there are no funds to even use certain chemicals or expensive instruments required for various research experiments.”
The protesters stated that the education system is disrupted at its foundation because the theories are not questioned at the ground level. Arnab Bhattacharya, an expert said, “Science is a method of understanding the world. It is a way of thinking but unfortunately it has been treated as a business model. ”
Dr M C Arunan, a biologist said, “Science is present even in simple things and therefore it should be encouraged and given importance.”