Moodbidri: Major discoveries of the world come from curiosity. Curious mind expects and anticipates new ideas every now and then. New worlds and possibilities which are normally not visible are hidden behind the surface of normal life. It takes a curious mind to look beneath the surface and discover these new worlds and possibilities, said Prof R R Rao, Central Institute of Meducanla and Aromatic Plants, Bengaluru and INSA Honorary Scientist.
He was speaking at the inaugural programme of Science Academies’ Lecture workshop on “Emerging Vistas in Plant Sciences’’ organised by Alva’s PG Dept of Applied Botany and sponsored by Indian Academy of Science (IASc), Indian National Science Academy (INSA), National Academy of Science (NASI) Joint Science Education Panel, on Tuesday, at Kuvempu Hall.
Scientific temperament and inquisitiveness assist curiosity to generate invention. “Though India is having enormous human wealth, it has failed in figuring out the adventures of scientific discoveries. Among the best 100 universities of the world, India is nowhere in the scene”, he lamented. He said inorder to support the cause of science all the science academies of the country were conducting series of lecture workshops, summer research fellowship programmes and bringing out a monthly magazine “Resonance”. So, it was high time that the students utilised the facilities made available by the science academies, he added.
Presiding over the programme, Alva’s Education Chairman Dr M Mohan Alva said, “Life of Human beings totally depends on plants. Hence there is an immediate need for people to plunge into research activities of plant sciences for a better tomorrow.
The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions. The first session titled “Floristic Diversity India-Concerns and Strategies’’ was handled by Prof R R Rao. In the second session, “Mycorrhizal Symbiosis’’ was hosted by Prof D Bagyaraj Joseph, NASI Senior Scientist & Chairman of CNBRCD, Bengaluru. Prof Ranganath H A, Rtd vice chancellor, Bangalore University spoke about Mobile Genetic Elements. The fourth session was about “Pollination: A Threaded Eco Service Essential for Sustenance of Crop Productivity’’ was presented by Prof K R Shivanna, Odekar Farms, Nandhihalli, Tumkuru.
Alva’s College Principal Prof Kurian, Head of the Dept Prof Puspendra Kumar and lecturer Dr Sukesh were present among others.
