New Dawn of Research Atmosphere of Bihar

In order to promote quality scientific research in the state colleges and universities, the chancellor’s office has initiated steps for establishment of a central instrumentation centre here.

The proposed centre will have all the sophisticated equipment required for research in different science subjects, to be utilised by teachers and scholars of universities.

Chancellor R S Gavai has reportedly got the approval of the Union science and technology minister Kapil Sibal for the proposal. While the science and technology department will provide necessary funds for purchasing equipment, the state government will provide infrastructural facilities and trained manpower for the purpose.

The centre would be set up either at the Indira Gandhi Planetarium or the Patna University campus. Many a research scholars were unable to carry out their work due to non-availability of scientific equipment in their respective institutions, said R Krishna Kumar, special officer (universities) to governor, at a meeting of deans and senior science teachers of all the universities at Rajbhawan, here on Monday. The centre would facilitate these workers to carry out research work smoothly, he said.

The centre would be linked to all the universities through internet and the analytical results of the samples sent by a research scholar would be e-mailed to him. Deans of science faculty in universities have been asked to furnish details of the ongoing research activities and the equipment required for research within a fortnight. They have been directed to convene a workshop of researchers to motivate the young teachers to undertake quality research work.

Junior teachers should be encouraged to apply for minor and major research projects to UGC, DST, DBT and other funding agencies in proper format.

The number of people seeking research grants from various agencies is quite low as compared to the people from other states, they observed.

It was decided to bring out a research journal from the state and also to organise popular science lectures in colleges, with each college holding at least one national seminar every year. The scheme of giving annual awards to the outstanding research scholars was also discussed.

University scholars should also be encouraged to visit national laboratories and research institutions at regular intervals. Krishna Kumar also disclosed a scheme of providing laptop to every teacher at subsidised rate.
(TOI, Patna, 21st August.)