STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said that it is strange yet healthy paradox that each stream of science is growing into a highly exclusive super specialty on its own but at the same time, scholars are also realising the importance and viability of coordination among these apparently different streams. This remarkably manifests, for example, in the form of bioengineering which is a synergy of two different streams of science and yet a specialty on its own.
Looking forward to India’s role as a leader in the scientific world, Dr. Jitendra said that he is glad to be among a galaxy of some of the world’s reputed scientists, whom instead of describing as ‘scientific fraternity’, he would prefer to describe through the newly coined term “bio-fraternity”.
He said that it is a sign of elevation to higher level of academics that the IITs have been constantly experimenting with new areas of scientific technology and have truly proved to be the most cherished seats of learning in contemporary India.
Jitendra was speaking during inaugural address at four-day International Conference on Biomaterials organized by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi in collaboration with Italian National Agency for New Technologies, here.
“Just as certain universities and institutions flourished in the pre-independence British India, IITs can aptly be described as befitting monuments of post-independence modern India”, he said.
Congratulating the organisers for having put up an innovative scientific programme, Dr. Singh said that he found the event unique because in addition to symposia, the 4-day conference also included “microsymposia” on certain lesser discussed topics like aloe vera, biosensors and bioplastics.
Dr. Jitendra said, “This is an upcoming area in the field of science and technology” and added that just as in the middle and last half of 20th century the emphasis was on physics and electronics, in the first quarter of the 21st century, the focus is going to be on research in the areas of biomaterials, bioengineering and biodiagnostics.
Among others, Prof R.K. Shevgaonkar, Director IIT Delhi, Dr. Bhuvanesh Gupta, Professor IIT Delhi, Dr Chattopadya, HoD Textile IIT Delhi and Dr. Lindia, Scientific Counsellor Italian Embassy also spoke on the occasion.
