oval ee en AN pe MALU EDUCATIONJAND EXCELLENCE Te TS CIS Stel INDIAWUNIVERSITIES UNIVERSITY ela te) , THE INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS ASSOCIATION C3] S RM fonts UNIVERSITY Ree year)8"! th Iqdian erence Congress QUALITY EDUCATION AND EXCELLENCE IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN INDIAN UNIVERSITIES - A BLUE PRINT According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, to educate’ means “to give intellectual and moral training to." ‘Education’ is accordingly, a “systematic instruction for] development of character or mental powers’ Quality education, besides imparting latest knowledge about the subject taught, should encourage students to acquire more knowledge and deep understanding of the subjects studied. Scienceis an international enterprise. Excellence in research in science has to be ascertained in what s being done in the field elsewhere, Needless to say that well-equipped laboratories are a must forexcellent research But equally important is that a scientific researcher should have a deep understanding of the fundamentals ofthe discipline. Teachers besides providing knowledge of the subject, should also be able to stimulate the thinking process of their students. A large higher education sector is our strength. The number of students of our country is third largest in the world after China and the United States. We have a long academic tradition but the weaknesses in education in general and science education in particular outweigh ourstrength. in many of our universities there is continued erosion of intellect and moral values. After independence there has been an excessive increase in the number of students from primary to higher education levels. There has been no commensurate increase in buildings and other infrastructural facilities and teachers to cope with this increase. There has been a steep decline in academic standards and increasing domination of mediocrity. Academic standards, admission of students, appointment of teachers, etc. have been adversely affected due to intrusion of politics in theuniversity campuses. Under investment in libraries, laboratories and classrooms makes it difficult to provide quality education to our boys and girls. There is need to strengthen inter-library loans between universities tostop spending money on buying multiple copies of essential journals in various subjects which are very costly, Ts and other such institutions get many times more funding than does an average Indian University, These institutes have freedom to select a limited number of students through an all-india admission test. The number of trained students who come out of these institutions is very small in comparison to an Indish University which is starved of funds by most of the State Governments which ‘control’ them, The irony is that many of the products of Li.Ts and other such institutions leave the country in search of grezner pastures abroad, For quality education and path-breaking research India needs high quality teachers with devotion and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge and capacity to impart/transmit itto worthy recipients/ students, The tendency to make temporary part-time teachers, quest lecturers, etc.and often freeze on the appointment of regular permanent teachers is very detrimental to our education system, Additional posts be created as per need, Service of the teacher who excels, both in teaching and research, during active service is rarely considered worth utilization after his retirement - a colossal national loss. Time-bound or personal promotion, on the whole, has been detrimental as it has killed the desire among many teachers to excel by high-quality research. The moot point is can this system be scrapped? No, not at alll India has carried the load of mediocrity in higher education for decades. But even this moderately trained personnel has taken the country forward. However, itis not enough. Higher quality of science education and teal excellence in scientific research is. becoming important day-by-day. Private enterprise can create a limited number of institutions like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. |t is the responsibility of the Government to allocate more funds for the educationsector in general and in particular for higher education and research. To try to create a world class University from scratch instantaneously is a pipe dream. Harvard was not created in a day. It will be ood to finance some of the existing Universities which are quite old and have done well with limited resources at their disposal, Medium of instruction cannot be glossed over. We need proficiency in a foreign language for keeping abreast with what is happening in the scientific world. It can, without doubt, be only English. We have to devise effective ways to teach the language so that those who want to pursue a career in science should comprehend and express themselves through English reasonably well. One last point in brief,relates to the accountability of teachers. There is hardly any way to ensure that teachers perform their duties to the best of their ability and with total commitment.This loose end needs tobe tightened, The 98th session of Indian Science Congress aims to address several thrust areas through plenaries, symposia, panel end round table deliberations to make India a knowledge empowered, hunger-free, healthy and developed country, .+ Challenges of water resources management in the new millennium + Waste management: challenges and conversion to resource + Maternal and child heath cate: Indian perspective + Lifestyle and newly emerging diseases :search for management and treatment + Biomedical technology for health eare:incian perspectives Genetic engineeting and biotechnology: application for Human welfare + Disaster management: through space and information technology + Managing resources for increased farm sustainability, + Livestock for nutitional and functional well-being + Environmental Problems and Solutions security through educational awareness) + Emeiging trendsin biomedical research and technology + Hunger free indiain the new millennium = Information Technology for integrated rural Development + Challengesand application of information technology + E-education for national growth + Bioinformatics :ITin health care advances and prospects + Nanotechnology: Perspectivesand present prospects + Frontiers in New Biology Microbial diversity and sustainable utilization + Climate change and global warming = Climate change’end food security 21889 level changes, storm surges and bioshield development « Research and development in science andi technology: in search of resources Improvement of if through agricuture: new stiategies * Quality research in life sciences : mui Institutional and mult disciplinary efforts + Renewable & Non-Conventional energy, eneray security, biofuels as eneray supplements: Indain scenario “Taxonomy Biodiversity: Recent issues in Indian context + Current Issues in natural resources managementTHE HOST UNIVERSITY Over the last two and a half decades, SRM University has set standards in experiential education and knowledge creation across various fields: We have: reached beyond borders to universities and corporates across India and the world. Nurturing these relationships, we have inspired our students with en international standard of education, world-class infrastructure and an. industry ready curriculum, Chart your own course Students experience unparalleled freedom in choosing their own future. There are a wide variety of courses a vailable ranging through certificate courses, diploma courses, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs in every possible discipline, be it in the fields of Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Management or Science & Humanities, Cutting edge specializations, include nanotechnology, bioinformatics, genetic engineering, remote sensing and GIS, embedded systems, aerospace engineering and computer forensics, Build global bridges SRM University is one of the few universities in the country with an international network of advisors from varsities and industries. worldwide Alliances with University of London, Queen's University and the Partners International Healthcare (Harvard Teaching Hospitals) give the university an international dimension in terms of knowledge and student exchange programs, as well as joint research, Many of the courses are associated with collaborative projects like the ‘leaming by discovery” education model, which was developed in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of yx-Rohan Abeyaratne, Me Mark Stel and Mr War Cheng Technology, USA. ‘with the Vice Chancellor of SRM Unversity Exercise every edge Top faculty in India and abroad; outstanding laboratories, libraries and teaching aids dedicated to each stream; access to one of the largest digital knowledge networks in the country. At SRM University the advantages are everywhere. SRM Nanosat,a satellite to monitor greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is being designed and developed by the students of SRM University in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, This is @ rare opportunity and technological challenge to the students of a University. The satellteis planned to be launched in the second half of 2010. = =) Gh Shvic.R.Pachamuthu, Chancellor Learn. Leap. Lead. Prof PSathyanarayanan, Vice-ChancellorCHENNAI - CITY OF THE CENTRE Chennai formerly known as Madras is the capital city of Tamil Nadu state ands the fourth largest metro city in India. The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort St. George and gradually absorbed the surrounding towns and villages. However, despite the strong British influence, Chennai has retained its traditional Tamil Hindu culture and effectively blended it with the foreign influence. The city is widely spread in about 180 Sq, kms. It is a major trade center, being well inked by road, ail and air to important cities besides being a sea port. Compared to the other major metros of India, it is far less congested and polluted. Chennai, is @ journey into timeless India, a kaleidoscope of moods. rich in the treasures of history, from ‘temples and shrines to forts and palaces, the landscape of the past lives easily with the present. Retaining much ofits traditional charm, this 350 year old city’s the gateway to the south, providing many a fascinating vignette of southern heritage, TAMIL NADU REACHING CHENNAI KamrajNational and Anna International Airports are situated at Tirusulam about 20 Kms from city. Chennal is, connected by rail with all major towns and cities in India, Main Railway Stations: Central and Egmore. Chennai is connected by good network of roads with all important places in Taril Nadu and other parts of India, Kancheepuram - 75kms. Bangalore 334 kms, Pondicherry 162 kms. Tirupati -154 kms, Mamallapuram - 58 kms. Vellare - 145 kms Thirukkazhukundram -74kms Vedanthangal - 85 kms.THE INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS ASSOCIATION 14, Dr. Biresh Guha Street, Kolkata - 700 017, India Telephone: +91-33-287 4530/2281 5323 Fax 91-33-2287 2551 Telegram :SCICONG: CALCUTTA E-mailiseacal@vsni.net, Website: http://wwwsciencecongress.nic.in scacal_2004@yahoo.com, PROFILE. The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) started in 1914 is premier scientific institution established primarily forthe pupose of providing a common platform to indian Scientists, engineers and technologists for all categories and belonging to different disciplines for sharing expertise and experience. ISCA brings together scientists from india and abroad for mutual interaction in the cause of scientific advancement and to promote national development. ‘The objectives of the Association are (i) to advance and promote the cause of Science in india; (ii) to hold Annual Congress at a suitable place in India;and (il) to publish proceedings, journals for popularizing Science and Scientific achievements. Hon'ble Prime Minister of India inaugurates the Science Congress on January 3,2011 and also gives away awards to distinguished experts for academic excellence and leadership. An exhibition showcasing the achievements in science and technology is held during science congress which draws huge number of Visitors, Another special attraction is the Children Science Congress. Prof. K.C. Pandey Prof.P.Satyanarayanan Vice Chancellor, SRM University General President of ISCA 2010-11 ikateandaalssture GU3B04, Dept.of Zoology Lucknow University Phone: +91-44-27454255 Lucknow - 226 007. Faxe 491-44-27453622 Phone: +91 97932 55809 E-mail: ve@srmuniv.ac.in E-mail:pandey_kc43@rediffmail.com Web:srmuniv.ac-in/isc2011