Excellent work by Science India Forum

Dear Sir,

I would like to appreciate the excellent work of Science India Forum, Qatar, for its intense efforts in promoting scientific interest among Indian students in the state.
I have been participating in its programmes for the past two years and it always pleases me so much to be  a part of the forum’s activities.
Its programmes are  very well organised. And one must not  forget the tasty snacks that the forum members offer at these gatherings!
On April 1, it conducted a grand launch of their Shastrayaan 2016 and the chief guest on that day was Dr M S Valiathan who has pioneered biomedical research in India and is credited with the development of artificial heart valves, blood bags, oxygenerators, vascular grafts, etc.
Very few scientists have the quality of inspiring others and Dr Valiathan was one such great person. His speech made the audience  forget time and place. He took the audience on a great journey, starting from science and technology in ancient and medieval India to the “regression” of Indian society in later years, explaining how advances made in sectors like medicine and steel-making in the past were gradually lost out by colonisation and domination by European powers.
His lecture ended with a call for people to adopt three principles for achieving universal access to science: discovery-driven research instead of journal-based one, product-oriented technology development and a change of mindset. The lecture was peppered with numerous examples and case studies to stress the importance of the three principles.
What a marvellous journey it was! It is a rare opportunity to listen to the words of such great minds. I  thank Science India Forum for creating such opportunities for students.
It is truly said that a true scientist’s goal must be to inculcate and disseminate the information that he/she has gathered to as many people as possible. Here the lecturer had done exactly that.
I admire the work done by Science India Forum and hope it will continue such efforts.

Reegana Doulath, reeganadoulath@yahoo.com


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