VIGYAN SAMAGAM: Pushing the Frontiers of Science
“Almost everything that distinguishes the modern world from earlier centuries is attributable to the progress in science”. This statement, by Bertrand Russell, succinctly describes the the importance of science for human society. The Vigyan Samagam exhibition that is currently on at the Nehru Science Centre, which presents the frontiers of science research in seven mega science projects, is therefore a befitting exhibition that is intended to present, in layman’s language, what these projects are and how will they shape and benefit human society. This exhibition is now heading towards its final leg and visitors in excess of 90 thousand have already visited the exhibition and those of you who are yet to visit are requested to do so before the curtains are drawn and the exhibition moves out to Bangalore.
For eons we have taken science for granted. Not withstanding the fact that technologies - the application of science - are inextricably linked to our day today lives, we hardly ever try to hazard a guess to even remotely understand from where do these benefits come from and who sowed the seeds of science for unravelling the secrets of nature at its deepest and farthest to shape our modern technologies for benefitting human society. A look at the history of science reveals that the giant leap towards modern society was shaped by human understanding of the universe and its governance. The Vigyan Samagam presents some of such efforts in understanding the universe and is aimed at creating interest in science particularly among the students
The progress towards harvesting scientific knowledge for modern society was kick started when Galileo aimed his telescope to look beyond our Earth and Newton began to unlock the secrets of the gravitational force that govern our universe at the macro level. Ever since, scientists have continued to strive to provide answers to many of the mysteries of the universe, and with that knowledge the human race has achieved incredible benefits. All of this has underpinned our technological adventure into the 20th Century. Our understanding of the building blocks of matter – atoms – brought about the next technological age - the computer age, undoubtedly the most impactful invention from this science was the Nobel prize winning discovery of the humble transistor in the middle of the 20th century. Transistors shaped the Silicon Valley and without the transistors it perhaps would have been impossible for us to have computers, smartphones or any electronic devices, which we see all around us today.
From powering the industrial revolution to sparking the digital and information era and unlocking the secrets of the stars, researching and pushing the frontiers of science has underpinned our technological adventure into the 21st Century. Now that we are at the cusp of entering the third decade of this century it is befitting that global partnerships, with India as one of the partner, have been cemented to further push the frontiers of science. The ongoing exhibition showcases seven mega-science projects, which are pushing the frontiers of science and in each of these projects India is collaborating with other international scientific bodies. These projects include, Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR), India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), Square Kilometer Array (SKA), Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). In the years and decade/s to come, these projects and findings from them are sure to bring about a paradigm shift in our understanding of our universe and in the process our understanding could further benefit human society and help us in the much awaited sustainable and millennium development goals, which have been set by the U.N.
The Vigyan Samagam exhibition highlights some of the frontiers of science research projects in which India is actively involved. This exhibition is supplemented by unprecedented number of lectures from the best of scientists, other outreach educational activities, demonstrations and quizzes. Through this post once again I would like to stress on the importance of this exhibition and appeal to every one particularly the students, to please make best use of the opportunity for visiting the exhibition and participating in the events, lectures and activities. For details of the exhibition and the ongoing lectures and events please see;
www.vigyansamagam.in
www.nehrusciencecentre.gov.in
Jai Vigyan, Jai Hind
“Almost everything that distinguishes the modern world from earlier centuries is attributable to the progress in science”. This statement, by Bertrand Russell, succinctly describes the the importance of science for human society. The Vigyan Samagam exhibition that is currently on at the Nehru Science Centre, which presents the frontiers of science research in seven mega science projects, is therefore a befitting exhibition that is intended to present, in layman’s language, what these projects are and how will they shape and benefit human society. This exhibition is now heading towards its final leg and visitors in excess of 90 thousand have already visited the exhibition and those of you who are yet to visit are requested to do so before the curtains are drawn and the exhibition moves out to Bangalore.
For eons we have taken science for granted. Not withstanding the fact that technologies - the application of science - are inextricably linked to our day today lives, we hardly ever try to hazard a guess to even remotely understand from where do these benefits come from and who sowed the seeds of science for unravelling the secrets of nature at its deepest and farthest to shape our modern technologies for benefitting human society. A look at the history of science reveals that the giant leap towards modern society was shaped by human understanding of the universe and its governance. The Vigyan Samagam presents some of such efforts in understanding the universe and is aimed at creating interest in science particularly among the students
The progress towards harvesting scientific knowledge for modern society was kick started when Galileo aimed his telescope to look beyond our Earth and Newton began to unlock the secrets of the gravitational force that govern our universe at the macro level. Ever since, scientists have continued to strive to provide answers to many of the mysteries of the universe, and with that knowledge the human race has achieved incredible benefits. All of this has underpinned our technological adventure into the 20th Century. Our understanding of the building blocks of matter – atoms – brought about the next technological age - the computer age, undoubtedly the most impactful invention from this science was the Nobel prize winning discovery of the humble transistor in the middle of the 20th century. Transistors shaped the Silicon Valley and without the transistors it perhaps would have been impossible for us to have computers, smartphones or any electronic devices, which we see all around us today.
From powering the industrial revolution to sparking the digital and information era and unlocking the secrets of the stars, researching and pushing the frontiers of science has underpinned our technological adventure into the 21st Century. Now that we are at the cusp of entering the third decade of this century it is befitting that global partnerships, with India as one of the partner, have been cemented to further push the frontiers of science. The ongoing exhibition showcases seven mega-science projects, which are pushing the frontiers of science and in each of these projects India is collaborating with other international scientific bodies. These projects include, Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR), India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), Square Kilometer Array (SKA), Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). In the years and decade/s to come, these projects and findings from them are sure to bring about a paradigm shift in our understanding of our universe and in the process our understanding could further benefit human society and help us in the much awaited sustainable and millennium development goals, which have been set by the U.N.
The Vigyan Samagam exhibition highlights some of the frontiers of science research projects in which India is actively involved. This exhibition is supplemented by unprecedented number of lectures from the best of scientists, other outreach educational activities, demonstrations and quizzes. Through this post once again I would like to stress on the importance of this exhibition and appeal to every one particularly the students, to please make best use of the opportunity for visiting the exhibition and participating in the events, lectures and activities. For details of the exhibition and the ongoing lectures and events please see;
www.vigyansamagam.in
www.nehrusciencecentre.gov.in
Jai Vigyan, Jai Hind
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