The former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) U.R. Rao said here on Thursday that in the next 15 or 20 years “we will certainly go to Mars”.
Speaking on ‘science in action – role of academicians and industries’ at the inauguration of a three-day workshop on ‘science in action’ at St. Agnes College, he said the moon could provide the resource (helium 3) required for power generation.
He asked people to bury beliefs such as that ancient scriptures mentioned aircraft operations.
Stating that science should serve the needs of people, he said advancements in space research and other areas of science should be used for evergreen revolution and increase agricultural productivity.
Make in India
Mr. Rao said that though India claimed to have made advancements in science, it had not able to manufacture even a single aircraft domestically.
The cost of purchasing an aircraft from abroad was huge — ranging up to Rs. 500 crore, which was enough to go to Mars.
He said that even machinery and equipment needed for defence forces were being imported.
Stressing on the need to stop relying on imports and start producing and manufacturing indigenously, he said it would also help in appreciation of the Indian rupee.
If the country continued to rely more in imports, the rupee could not recover, he said.
Career in agriculture
P. Chowdappa, Director, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod, told students there was life beyond employment opportunities in the Information Technology sector. Agricultural business and farming offered a large scope as career.
Referring to tissue-cultured banana cultivation, he said tissue-cultured plants could yield up to 60 tonnes of banana per hectare compared with 30 tonnes by using conventional plants. There was a demand for 50 million seedlings of tissue-cultured banana in the country now, he said.
Mr. Chowdappa said if neera was tapped from coconut palms, a palm could provide an income of Rs. 50,000 per year.
The three-day workshop would deliberate upon various topics including science for public.
