Pure science as a career

By
NASA scientist Amitabh Ghosh talk in Bangalore

A survey should be conducted as to why very few youngsters are opting for pure science as a career in India, opined NASA scientist Amitabh Ghosh on Tuesday.

Ghosh, a member of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Mission, is in the city to “promote scientific temper” among the younger generation, along with his team of NASA scientists. “Science is not just about being a space scientist, it has everyday uses and is fun. Developing a scientific attitude will help in personal and hence, national progress,” he said.

“If more people are migrating away from pure science, there must be something wrong with the operational model of the science sector. A survey of people who have opted for other fields will be the best gauge of the situation and the reasons for it.

Let me offer some simplistic answers from my experience - Herd mentality, lack of snob value and monetary incentives in pure science compared to other fields like computer science and electronics, etc.

If you see the admission list of IITs, the first hundred rankers or so opt for computer science and the bottom rankers invariably opt for pure sciences. It is not "coincidence" that the top rankers are interested in computer science, but "herd mentality". Their seniors opted for the same fields and they are doing it now. To guide them in "following" their seniors, the IITs usually issue a prospectus listing the opening and closing ranks of all departments. This list doesn't change much from year to year.

Many of those who opt for pure sciences (out of no choice), after finishing their degree choose a career in computer science. That is where the money is!

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