tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post6673999688619595912..comments2023-03-30T18:59:28.668+05:30Comments on Aquatic Static: On Serious Pursuits Like Science And SuchAquatic Statichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-71589558262412538992012-05-18T06:34:09.276+05:302012-05-18T06:34:09.276+05:30Thank you so much for the insight, bhalomanush.
Y...Thank you so much for the insight, bhalomanush.<br /><br />Yes, we absolutely do have to start somewhere and I strongly believe that Indian science can't thrive in isolation. The rest of us, who make up the billion, need to know what's going on (to a certain extent) so we can support the field or at least have an opinion.Aquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-24898567893632221302012-05-18T06:28:41.671+05:302012-05-18T06:28:41.671+05:30Interesting perspective. Thanks for reading!Interesting perspective. Thanks for reading!Aquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-59395602505402536252012-05-18T06:27:37.995+05:302012-05-18T06:27:37.995+05:30I did not claim to say I understood the entire sce...I did not claim to say I understood the entire scenario of research in India. Please read my responses to comments above. I am an outsider. I wrote this as an outsider.<br />Having said that, it is my personal belief that we should celebrate the spirit of those who are doing science in India. As a member of the media, I believe that if we project the good that is happening, the profile of science can go up and who knows maybe some your 'ha ha' points might be addressed someday.<br />Thanks for dropping by :)Aquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-15042748801097787242012-05-18T02:07:27.901+05:302012-05-18T02:07:27.901+05:30I could go on an on about this subject. The fact t...I could go on an on about this subject. The fact that I spent two weeks visiting institutes in India last year and will spend a month with 20 scientists visiting 12 institutes in 11 cities in October gives you a sense of how important we think India is in the long-run.<br /><br />I use the royal "we" and perhaps all is not as rosy as it might seem (and I need to parse my words here).<br /><br />Is the funding situation in India looking up compared to when I studied there? Yes.<br /><br />Are there new opportunities for young researchers? Yes.<br /><br />Are there problems? Most certainly. Do we have enough science to meet the aspirations of 1 billion plus people? Most certainly not.<br /><br />Your mileage will vary based on the institutes you visit, the fields you research, and the people you meet. There are some true visionaries. There are also people who left the country after securing solid funding and tenure-track positions because (according to them) the situation is dire.<br /><br />But we have to start somewhere, don't we?bhalomanushhttps://twitter.com/#!/bhalomanushnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-78342223742230103832012-05-18T00:40:41.862+05:302012-05-18T00:40:41.862+05:30Awesome stuff written out here.... I was discussin...Awesome stuff written out here.... I was discussing a similar or a parallel topic with a friend as to how the western countries are surpressing Indian talent and creativity by offering comfortable outsourced jobs having good money. My opinion on a larger front is that they are trying to pull India back from becoming a superpower and we are falling into their hands. Only if such positive stories reach out to the public and encouragement given by our media and likes, can we once again jump to be at the top of R&D sector.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-16873771089561418272012-05-17T23:30:56.519+05:302012-05-17T23:30:56.519+05:30ha what to say, i don't want to comment, if pu...ha what to say, i don't want to comment, if put it will be long. Ok. What to say ? You have visited institutes for 3 weeks. Does that mean you got idea of research in India, No absolutely not . Publishing in Science and Nature doesn't mean they are great. ( Science and Nature are leading journals with high impact factor), ha why don't scientists lead a happy life, with a superb 6th pay commission and all. And the students working their A## day and night out. Did you interviewed PhD students, even if they spoke good about their research in lab, did you interview them in personal ? 98 % of scientists are psychos and they don't know about the research, just the students work and they take credit and the students will become psychos, It is very difficult to understand until you are not Phd student in science. Just read this http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php, this is the life phd students even in USA, so imagine in India. I know you are going ga ga over these research exploits of India, but what lies beneath your ground is always difficult to see<br />thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-57447912784436429062012-05-17T22:02:07.535+05:302012-05-17T22:02:07.535+05:30Thanks for reading :)
Tangentially, my sister, who...Thanks for reading :)<br />Tangentially, my sister, who went to Harvard, shattered all my idealism about the place when she told me what a White-Boy, sexist place it could be. Similarly, Indian institutions have more than their share of problems right now...but I'm a romantic...I get taken by the fire in a scientist's eyes as s/he talks about proteins folding & misfolding and it makes me all glow-ey inside :DAquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-17454043612091886752012-05-17T21:49:57.121+05:302012-05-17T21:49:57.121+05:30Totally agree with your last paragraph. And, as I ...Totally agree with your last paragraph. And, as I said, I am very glad that you are putting the message out there. (Left to grouchy cynics like me, only the negatives will get highlighted.)<br /><br />Great to know there will be a TV series based on this. Looking forward to it!bongopondithttp://palscape.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-68388553540818283782012-05-17T21:43:25.992+05:302012-05-17T21:43:25.992+05:30(I love longish comments)
Everything you say is c...(I love longish comments)<br /><br />Everything you say is correct as per my observation as well. The guy who made the 'brahmin' comment was refering to a lot of the things you write about. <br />Yet, for me, it was so far from my pre-concieved notions that I chose, very deliberately, to write a positive note on what I saw.<br />Overall, I am left thinking that scientists are a brave lot to continue to do science in India. Those who are returning are bringing new vitality and expect more from their institutions (in terms of support). <br />I just wanted to put it out there that (a) Indian scientists have always been and continue to do great science and that (b) now is probably one of the best times to be a scientist in India.Aquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-17037289799298337432012-05-17T21:35:11.694+05:302012-05-17T21:35:11.694+05:30I think the excitement has to do with the current ...I think the excitement has to do with the current crop being so young, many US/UK-trained, and who are coming back to find facilities and funding levels close to what they had back there. For those of us who have worked with ancient, WWII-era equipment back in India during our undergraduates, this is a pleasant surprise. Also, with drastic cuts in science budgets in US/UK, many are now looking at India as a great opportunity for research. <br /><br />On the negative side, the complaint I most frequently hear is that bureaucracy is still bad, old people are helm are resistant to change etc. Also have heard complaints from women scientists of rampant sexism in the workplace. <br /><br />On a general note, I think Indian science is suffering from a lack of good policy directives (and is getting beaten by China in the process. <br /><br />But, positive stories like this are great and should be highlighted in the media. Important for the next generation to be inspired as well. <br /><br />Sorry about the longish comment. This topic is quite close to my heart :)bongopondithttp://palscape.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-37778266260819333732012-05-17T21:25:54.122+05:302012-05-17T21:25:54.122+05:30Yeah. A 26-pat TV series that's currently in p...Yeah. A 26-pat TV series that's currently in pre-production.Aquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-79112512111438722232012-05-17T21:25:23.591+05:302012-05-17T21:25:23.591+05:30I have no doubt that folks within the field might ...I have no doubt that folks within the field might have a different take. But coming in from the outside and being generally clueless about current S&T, I was quite pleasantly surprised to meet so many scientists that weren't disgruntled, underpaid or downright miserable. And yes, it's a shame how little about Indian science makes it to the public domain.Aquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-24077038674046722292012-05-17T21:23:15.822+05:302012-05-17T21:23:15.822+05:30Absolutely.Absolutely.Aquatic Statichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13012433579722596255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-45289819358147701242012-05-17T21:22:12.544+05:302012-05-17T21:22:12.544+05:30A very interesting read and good to see such a pos...A very interesting read and good to see such a positive take on science in India, even though it does not totally jive with the feedback I get from friends who are scientists in India. <br /><br />One point I totally agree with is that Indian media is far behind in terms of good science reporting. Suspect fault is on both sides. <br /><br />Are you doing a particular TV/print-media series based on these experiences?bongopondithttp://palscape.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420229983156320169.post-18306598362822135432012-05-16T09:58:00.479+05:302012-05-16T09:58:00.479+05:30Lucky you. It's fascinating to enter into a ne...Lucky you. It's fascinating to enter into a new world, at least one new to you. And yes, I think it's an enormous privilege which journalists and filmmakers have.Bannohttp://batulm.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com