Privileged to contribute to S&T ecosystem: India’s new scientific adviser Ajay Sood

Express News Service

BENGALURU: In 2003, when Prof Ajay Kumar Sood and his group on the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, created historical past after they generated electrical energy by passing liquid or fuel by carbon nanotubes, Sood didn’t think about that he might at some point turn into the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the federal government.

“Posts, appointments, awards and accolades are milestones, and not targets in a scientist’s life. We don’t work for anything other than science itself,” Sood advised TNSE in an unique interview after his appointment because the PSA.

Regarding his new function because the nation’s high scientist, he stated he was “humbled” and felt privileged to get this chance to contribute to the science and expertise ecosystem. “I look forward to accelerating the scientific temperament, and making India one of the top three countries in science and technology. We have the best brains and potential to be on top,” stated the distinguished physicist and Padma Shri awardee.

“We have seen the speed of progress in the management of Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine development. There were decades of medical research and basic science behind it,” the famend scientist stated. Talking concerning the highway map to elevated scientific temperament and development, Sood stated India has pockets of scientific excellence, which must be expanded.

“There should be many more such centres and greater synergy between academia and industry. We must motivate students and researchers to come out with scientific breakthroughs. We should see more research papers by Indian scientists getting published in international journals of repute. We need to bolster systems that would promote basic science to transactional science,” stated the brand new PSA, who will assume cost on April 25.