State-level Dr. H. Narasimhaiah Award conferred

Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that Green (agriculture) and White (Milk) revolutions in the country were driven by Science, BJP MLC A.H. Vishwanath said that the agriculture revolution has made our country self-sufficient in food, catering to the food needs of over 130 crore population of the country.

He was speaking at the valedictory of the three-day 14th Akhila Karnataka Vijnana Sammelana organised by Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishat (KRVP) in association with Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society, Zilla Panchayat (ZP), District Administration, Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) and University of Mysore (UoM), at KSOU Convocation Hall here on Saturday.

Opining that basic science has come under attack from social media, Vishwanath said  that one must never forget that basic science is very important for human life.

Maintaining that science plays a key role in nation’s growth and prosperity, he said that the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharalal Nehru gave prominence to Science in this backdrop, when some criticised it. But later, the critics realised why Nehru did it, he said and lauded the work of Agricultural scientists of the country for achieving food sustainability.

KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Vidyashankar, in his address, said that science cannot be twisted or distorted like history or political science. Asserting that a country’s growth depends on the advancements of Science and Technology, he opined that Governments must promote research in all fields of science.

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar, who chaired the three-day Sammelana, said that the rapid advancements going on in Science and Technology must be best used for sustainable development.

Highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Kiran Kumar said that AI must be used only for constructive and development purposes. There is an urgent need for creating public awareness on the limits of usage of AI, he added.

Bharat Scouts and Guides State Commissioner PGR Sindhia, who is also a former Minister, said that the current generation has got severely addicted to Google. Pointing out that Science is now more relevant than ever before, he stressed on the need for teachers and educators to teach scientific things to children. With the rampant use of plastics causing harm to nature, there is an urgent need to educate the public on the adverse effects of plastics, he added.

A souvenir was released marking the occasion.

Also, retired Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) Scientist Srimathi Hariprasad, Bengaluru’s Science Communicator Prof. M.R. Nagaraj, Vijayapura’s Prof. D.R. Balooragi and educationist from Kalaburagi Prof. B.K. Chalageri were conferred the first State-level Dr. H. Narasimhaiah Award on the occasion.

The Sammelana adopted a 10-point resolution to be forwarded to the Government, which chiefly included strict implementation of Karnataka Anti-Superstition Act.

KRVP President Girish Kadlewad, Vice-President H.G. Huddar, KSOU Registrar Dr. A. Khader, KRVP office-bearers E. Basavaraj, Nagaraj, Doddabasappa, B.N. Srinath, C. Krishnegowda, A.N. Mahesh, Dr. Shekar Nayak and G.B. Santosh Kumar and others were present.