March for Science returns

Fighting superstition and funding are the key demands

April 14, 2018 09:11 pm | Updated April 15, 2018 03:39 pm IST

"Not all those in lab coats are scary. Come, talk to us scientists," read one placard. Another read: "Ignorance is not bliss".

These were just a few of the placards and banners held by hundreds of scientists and youth, who had gathered for the March for Science, organised by the Breakthrough Science Society (BSS), Karnataka.

Early Saturday evening, they formed a human chain outside the Kendriya Vidyalaya at Malleswaram 18th Cross. On the second anniversary of March for Science, similar marches were held in several cities across the country, and the world.

Most of the speakers at the event in Bengaluru stressed on the need to instil a scientific temper among citizens, besides making science accessible to society at large.

Some of the scientists, who spoke on the occasion, labelled superstition and myths as evils of society. S. Mahadevan from the Indian Institute of Science hoped that the youth would help establish a society based on reason. Ramesh Londonker from Gulbarga University also voiced concern about the growing superstition despite development in various fields.

Sudha K., senior plastic surgeon, spoke about how myth is being projected as reality and the need to question it.

Sabyasachi Chatterjee, an astrophysicist, said that science should be used for progress of mankind and not for military use. He called upon citizens to work towards enhancing scientific temper for peace between nations.

Messages from eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, former chairperson of IIT-Kanpur M. Anandakrishnan, and honorary professor from Indian Institute of Science Dipankar Chatterjee were read out.

Homage was paid to renowned scientist Stephen Hawking and Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishat founder J.D. Lakshman Rao.

A memorandum of demands will be submitted to the Governor to be forwarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The memorandum stresses on the importance of stopping the propagation of unscientific, outdated ideas and developing a scientific temper; seeking higher allocation for scientific and technological research; ensuring that the education system does not impart ideas that contradict scientific evidence and enacting policies based on scientific evidence.

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