Just a couple of links about the inaugural day of the Conference.
First, the PTI report on Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's address, in which he outlines his vision for the IISc:
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam on Saturday envisioned a greater role for the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in its second century by emerging as one of the top 10 institutions for science in the world.
... [H]e said that his vision for IISc 2030 included creating 10 Nobel laureates in different disciplines.
Over at Lab Rats, Seema Singh offers a somewhat more personal take on what was said at the inauguration:
While President Kalam, in his characteristic style, gave a PowerPoint presentation listing a bunch of things he wants to see IISc achieve by 2030, he made it look lofty as well as simplistic (which, for some reason, all his solutions appear). But I was amused at his credulity - he expects 10 Nobel laureates from IISc by then. Was he kidding himself or others?
The only one Nobel connected with IISc is of Sir CV Raman, and he won it in 1930, became IISc director in 1933. Thereafter, we've not even had a nomination, through rumour is rife that CNR Rao was in the reckoning once.
This (Rao) grand old man of Indian science and two-time director of IISc, loved and somewhat criticized (for acting like a banyan tree and hindering young talent) in great measure, was candid enough: If IISc strives to be the best in India, it's not hard; if it wants to be the best in the world, it's not easy.
6 Comments:
Kalam....simplistic, impractical and trite as usual. Sad.
Maybe the Nobel Foundation will go down in the credit crunch, and then everyone can do everyday science.
All of what Ashutosh said is right and yet the man is inspiring, I think...
I am completely disagree with the Seema singh "offers" comments and Ashutosh. I think both didn't read the full presentations, in his presentations he said its his dream to see IISc in 2030 as what he mentioned, he just tried to inspire our young researchers to work on that 10 points he given, I think he is the right person to inspire our young researchers to work on some ground braking inventions, off course all of us know we have only one nobel from C V Raman thats what to increase the number he given those points if not 10 nobel at least if we succeed in getting 1 also the purpose will be served, also regarding Ashutosh's comments on impractical issue, Mr.Ashutosh don't forget Kalam is the only practicle man who made the indian dream of nuclear empowerment made true what else example on practicality of Kalam needed more than this...
Ok. I agree. We have a dream. In fact we have many of them and have had them for a long time. Now can we hear something about how to practically achieve them?
Also, I did not call Kalam's own work impractical. I essentially said that his pronouncements almost always have a pretty high ratio of idealism to practical recommendations.
That Kalam is a highly practical Engineer has been proved many times over. He just stated his vision that was meant to be inspiring. As for the practical solution, only competent academicians can develop one. Kalam cannot be expected to know everything in all the field. He, as a former head of state, said what he wanted for our country, though in an idealized way. It is the experts in that field who should take the task of producing practical results.
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