Now is the best time to be a scientist in India, Infosys co-founder and Chairman of Axilor Ventures Kris Gopalakrishnan has said. He was speaking at the fourth convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) at Vithura here on Friday.
“India can play important roles in theoretical physics or fields requiring use of computer models, in the areas of computer science like machine learning and artificial intelligence, and in precision and personalised medicine. The detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO project members of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences in Bengaluru is one of the most significant discoveries of this century,” said Mr. Gopalakrishnan.
He said that any developing society required its scientists to create breakthrough discoveries that revolutionised existing industries and create new industries.
“U.S. was the largest economy in the world in the 20th century because of its leadership in research and innovation in digital technology and its domination of the computer industry in the last 75 years. As India develops further, its scientists will have to play important roles in scientific and engineering research by discovering and inventing new things,” he said.
He said India would have to be at the forefront in the emerging field of DNA sequencing and identifying potential disorders well in advance.
“With India’s participation, we can accelerate the discoveries in medicine as well as reduce the costs of research, thus making the cures affordable,” he said.
Tessy Thomas, Chairperson of the Board of Governors of IISER and Project Director for Agni-IV missile in Defence Research and Development Organisation, said that educational institutions should act as catalysts in the growth of quality education in the country. She said the IISER was running outreach programmes to encourage students from remote areas.
V. Ramakrishnan, Director of IISER, said efforts were under way to have a fully functional campus by the end of 2017.
Ten PhD students, one Master’s student, and 78 BS-MS dual degree students graduated from the institute on Friday.
