SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE FOR VIKSIT BHARAT

                                   SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE FOR VIKSIT BHARAT

 Nikunja BIhari Sahu

          National Science Day (NSD) marks the ground-breaking discovery of Raman Effect by our eminent physicist Sir C.V. Raman on February 28, 1928 and his subsequent felicitation with the Nobel Prize as the first Asian in Physics. Celebrating the day in India is not just remembering Raman and his landmark discovery, but cherishing development and prosperity for a country of 1.4 billion driven by the powers of science. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Sustainable Science for a Better Future’ appears to be justified. At a time when global technological advancements like AI and quantum computing are poised to revolutionize our life, the NSD theme highlights the role of science in providing permanent solutions to global challenges such as climate change, healthcare, clean energy, and inclusive growth in alignment  with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

      In the twenty-first century when scientific developments are fast sweeping the entire world, humanity stands at a critical crossroad. Rapid industrialization, uncontrolled population growth, climate change, environmental pollution and depletion of natural resources have created complex challenges that threaten to bridge the gap between development and environment. In this context, sustainable science is the only option left to save mankind through its methods of advancing human wellbeing while safeguarding the planet for future generations.

       One of the most impactful contributions of sustainable science would be in the field of renewable energy as our stock of conventional sources, the fossil fuel based means, are almost nearing depletion and also are highly emission prone. Research in solar, wind, and biofuels   must be geared up for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and lowering our carbon footprints. Energy efficient technologies, smart grids and clean storage systems must be explored for helping our energy-hungry society transform towards a low carbon economy.

             

      Sustainable science also plays a key role in ensuring food security while protecting the key life supporting components of our mother nature like soil, water and biodiversity. Scientific innovations of developing climate resilient high yielding crops, organic farming practices and new breeds of livestock would help farmers to increase their productivity without degrading ecologies.

        Fresh water scarcity has been a global concern ever since the dawn of our civilization. Although our Earth is known as the water planet, the stock of fresh water on the planet is greatly sparse owing to the major bulk of water occurring in the saline seas unfit for human consumption. The rivers, the lifeline of human civilization and the source of most freshwater needs for communities for ages are either polluted or have gone dry. In this case, sustainable science would come to our rescue by its contribution through water purification technologies, desalination plant processes, rainwater harvesting systems, wastewater recycling methods and efficient irrigation techniques. These solutions would ensure equitable access to clean water for all while conserving this precious resource for future. 

      As human health is deeply connected to environmental wellbeing, methods of sustainable science would be required to promote clean air, safer materials and reduced exposure to pollutants. Ground breaking research in green chemistry, safe and affordable pharmaceuticals and environmentally friendly medical practices is required for addressing the health issues of the communities without straining ecology.

       For sustainable science to truly shape a better future, innovation elements must be incorporated into every field of our R&D sector. Scientific research should be translated into policies, technologies, and practices that common people can adopt for improving their quality of life and mitigating poverty, hunger and disease. Encouraging young minds to pursue sustainability-focused education in science would foster a generation of responsible scientists, engineers and policy makers to deliver the boons of science to the much-awaited society.

       By choosing a theme of sustainable science as the banner of its major flagship initiative of National Science Day, India has asserted the role of science in pushing the country to a position of global science superpower for realizing rapid economic and societal growth.

        

      

                                                                      Education Officer

                                                                   Regional Science Centre

                                                                                Bhubaneswar

                                                                         Phone: 8917637974

 

 

 

The Orissa Post dated 28.02.26:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gZ0qiE9YqLLHjTbwVdnP4RCENBXsZbk7/view?usp=sharing