Home
Publications
Search
Register
Log inScience congress a circus: Nobel winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
2 posters
Page 1 of 1
Science congress a circus: Nobel winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
by Seva Lamberdar Tue Jan 05, 2016 3:57 pm
CHANDIGARH: In a damning indictment of the Indian Science Congress, Indian-born Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has refused to attend the Congress ever again.
When asked by TOI on Tuesday why he wasn't attending the ongoing annual Science Congress in Mysuru, Venkatraman said, "I attended one day (of an earlier Congress) and very little science was discussed. It was a circus. I find that it's an organization where very little science is discussed. I will never attend a science congress again in my life." Last year, he had objected to politics and religious ideology being mixed with science.
Addressing a gathering at Panjab University earlier in the day, Venkatraman alluded to a claim made by a participant at the 2015 Congress in Mumbai about planes having been invented by a sage in the Vedic era. He said, "The idea that Indians had airplanes 2,000 years ago sounds almost essentially impossible to me. I don't believe it. The point is that if that technology was produced in a method so described that anybody could replicate it, then it becomes science."
Venkatraman, who was born in Tamil Nadu, is a structural biologist at Cambridge University; he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2009.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Science-congress-a-circus-Nobel-winner-Venkatraman-Ramakrishnan/articleshow/50460663.cms
When asked by TOI on Tuesday why he wasn't attending the ongoing annual Science Congress in Mysuru, Venkatraman said, "I attended one day (of an earlier Congress) and very little science was discussed. It was a circus. I find that it's an organization where very little science is discussed. I will never attend a science congress again in my life." Last year, he had objected to politics and religious ideology being mixed with science.
Addressing a gathering at Panjab University earlier in the day, Venkatraman alluded to a claim made by a participant at the 2015 Congress in Mumbai about planes having been invented by a sage in the Vedic era. He said, "The idea that Indians had airplanes 2,000 years ago sounds almost essentially impossible to me. I don't believe it. The point is that if that technology was produced in a method so described that anybody could replicate it, then it becomes science."
Venkatraman, who was born in Tamil Nadu, is a structural biologist at Cambridge University; he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2009.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Science-congress-a-circus-Nobel-winner-Venkatraman-Ramakrishnan/articleshow/50460663.cms
Seva Lamberdar- Posts : 6594
Join date : 2012-11-29 -
Re: Science congress a circus: Nobel winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
by Vakavaka Pakapaka Tue Jan 05, 2016 4:23 pm
Universities in India are being destroyed by politicians. Most faculty members don't do research and those that do, are pretty mediocre. If the Science Congress is a circus, it is mainly because of these reasons.
Long ago, I attended a Health related conference in India. The sessions were cancelled when the Health Minister arrived. Senior "scientists" and organizers were falling on her feet trying to get her attention. At the banquet, when she asked for my views on the meet, I compared it with meetings in the West and suggested changes. I also mentioned that cancelling scientific sessions for her arrival was improper. She wasn't pleased!
Long ago, I attended a Health related conference in India. The sessions were cancelled when the Health Minister arrived. Senior "scientists" and organizers were falling on her feet trying to get her attention. At the banquet, when she asked for my views on the meet, I compared it with meetings in the West and suggested changes. I also mentioned that cancelling scientific sessions for her arrival was improper. She wasn't pleased!
Vakavaka Pakapaka- Posts : 7611
Join date : 2012-08-24
Re: Science congress a circus: Nobel winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
by Seva Lamberdar Wed Jan 06, 2016 9:15 am
That's the crux of the matter / problem -- undue presence / influence involving Govt. representatives and others. Read my recent comment to a Sulekha blog on upcoming discussion on Ayodhya temple,Vakavaka Pakapaka wrote:Universities in India are being destroyed by politicians. Most faculty members don't do research and those that do, are pretty mediocre. If the Science Congress is a circus, it is mainly because of these reasons.
Long ago, I attended a Health related conference in India. The sessions were cancelled when the Health Minister arrived. Senior "scientists" and organizers were falling on her feet trying to get her attention. At the banquet, when she asked for my views on the meet, I compared it with meetings in the West and suggested changes. I also mentioned that cancelling scientific sessions for her arrival was improper. She wasn't pleased!
http://creative.sulekha.com/renewed-pitch-for-ram-temple-at-ayodhya_627141_blog
Seva Lamberdar- Posts : 6594
Join date : 2012-11-29 -
Sponsored content
Similar topics» Nobel Laureate Ramakrishnan: Chaddi ideology is bringing disrepute to India
» Nobel winner Korana dies
» Wife-beating nobel prize winner
» I will post very important about Nobel winner Amartya Sen next week
» Congress a winner in Gujarat: Chidambaram
» Nobel winner Korana dies
» Wife-beating nobel prize winner
» I will post very important about Nobel winner Amartya Sen next week
» Congress a winner in Gujarat: Chidambaram
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum