The Block of
basic
Aparna is a final year student of MSc
Physics. Her hobbies are reading and
writing. She believes that without a
literary temperament one cannot have
good scientific creativity.
sCIENCES
By Aparna Bisht
32
The Shoreline
W
elcome to the Basic Sciences
Block at NITK! It comprises
two units. The entrance to the
Department of Physics is from the left door.
The right door is the entry for the Department of Chemistry. Voila! Enter through
any you reach the same spot. On your left is
the pair of elevators that elevates one from
the ground level to the top most chemical
level (Chemistry Department). Pun intended. The first and second floors belong to the
physicists. The building is canopied at the
top and on the sides with glass panes. The
soaring temperatures sometimes convert it
into a huge cauldron. It is mostly peaceful
since the science fraternity of scholars like
to stay in its peaceful and snug niches.
However there are a few instances of
students squeaking. We are a minority in the
college. Everybody knows that. It doesn’t
take more than a month for a science fresher to realize this. When every other department in the college holds informal freshers
or department trips, we brood in vain over
our chances of holding any of it. When
pangs of hunger hit us after futile discussions we head towards OP (Ocean Pearl).
Yes we are the closest to it and we can boast
about it to others. Another matter of pride
for us is the good Wi-Fi connectivity in the
department. We are often faced with emotional pleas from undergrad students for
letting them know the Wi-Fi password (self
satiated smirk).
The department does not offer an undergraduate science course. This is one reason why we are considered passé. Though
technically speaking, the first year PG students are counterparts of the final year
B.Tech students, we still abstain from all
the fun and hide behind the façade of self
imposed poise. This is the basic instinct of
the basic science students. We never become part of the glitterati since PG studies demand higher level of perseverance.
This stays with us forever. I can vouch for
the fact that our academicians are the most
subtle breed of men. The intellectual, intel-
ligent, knowledgeable and classy folks of
the society. You can never judge the material richness of a man of the basic sciences
by his outward appeal. Hats off!
On a serious note, the major block of
the progress in basic sciences in India is not
that we do not get to party often but that
the encore for pursuing a technical degree
course reverberates exponentially in the society, and this makes our significance even
less. Another major hurdle is the dearth
of quality institutions that offer advanced
courses and doctorate degrees. This results
in draining of our talent to foreign lands.
There is no technology without science.
Hence it needs to be promoted right from
the school level.
Our department conducted the INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for
Inspired Research) program for school
students during the semester break in the
month of December, 2013. It was aimed to
motivate students to pursue basic science
courses that may lead to quality research in
the country. Being a volunteer I felt a sense
of pride and satisfaction by being a part of
it. More such programs need to be conducted regularly. When all the other departments
in NITK had dispersed for the break, our
department turned into a hub of meaningful activity.
Other incentives for students to get into
Basic Sciences courses may be to receive a
small stipend like the M.Sc students do. Yet
another may be to get into several collaborations for research and funding from reputed
institutes globally. This will surely be a positive step towards promoting science in our
country.
Coming back to our department, you
may enter through any door without any
preference. Also you may approach the faculty members for ‘real’ discussions. We, the
students, may not be of much use to you
but the Wi-Fi password will not be given by
any faculty member. So…. (smirk)
.