'Encourage fundamental scientific research'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JUNE 12. Fundamental scientific research has been given the short shrift in the State in favour of information technology and bio-technology and there was a need to rectify this problem, Dr. C.N.R.Rao, scientist and Honorary President, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, has said.

``Educational institutions are collapsing, universities are barely pulling along,'' Dr. Rao said. In the absence of support from the State, similar to that given to information technology, ``experimental science is dying in the country'', he added.

He was speaking at a function organised here today by the Department of Kannada and Culture to confer ``Karnataka Ratna'', the State's highest civil award, on him. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, gave away the award.

Dr. Rao appealed to Mr. Krishna to encourage fundamental scientific research, which was now lacking in the State.

Dr. Rao is the fourth recipient of this award after ``Rashtrakavi'' Kuvempu, the Kannada actor, Mr. Rajkumar, and the former Chief Minister, S. Nijalingappa. He has won several awards, including the Faraday Society's Marlowe prize in U.K., UNESCO's Albert Einstein Gold Medal, S.S.Bhatnagar Award and the Padma Vibhushan.

The award carries a gold medal, a memento, a citation and a shawl.

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Section  : Southern States
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