Science toppers say ‘no’ to engineering and medicine

Priya Naveen Kini, who topped Class 12 science stream (ISC), has decided to opt for a design course.

They bagged centums in many science subjects and topped the exams. But, looking beyond engineering and medicine, several toppers are choosing pure science subjects this year.

II PU science topper Rakshitha Thaman of VVS Sardar Patel PU College, who bagged 99.3 per cent and bagged centums in physics, chemistry, mathematics and electronics, says that she wants to study BS (Research) at the Indian Institute of Science.

Daughter of two engineering graduates, she, however, says she has been addicted to science shows and books. “Understanding the application of scientific concepts is what excites me,” she says, adding that the opportunities in research are expanding now like never before.

Shreyas Shukla, a topper from CMR National Public School, who got 97.2 per cent in CBSE Class 12, has also decided to opt for pure science. “I was always interested in research. I know it may have to study for several years and pursue a Ph.D. but I don’t mind it,” he says.

Demand for the Bachelor of Science (Research) at IISc is on the rise. This year, the cut-off rank for those pursuing the Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana scholarship for the undergraduate course has stopped at 280 for the general category, an increase from last year’s 350.

However, colleges say that the demand for pure science courses is restricted to some top colleges. B. Thimme Gowda, Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University, admitted that pure science courses were yet to get the boost. “While States like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have seen a demand for pure science courses, students in Karnataka still are leaned towards professional courses. There is a need to make structural changes in the work environment and offer better salary,” he said.

It is not just pure sciences that these toppers want. Priya Naveen Kini, a Class 12 science student, who was the State topper in the ISC exam, said that she has decided to opt for a design course at Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology. “I dropped chemistry and biology at Class 12 as I was very clear that I didn’t want to pursue engineering or medicine.”

At school, she said she was looking at creative options such as architecture and design. She said that very few schools allow students to drop subjects like chemistry. Taking science, she says, was a “compulsive decision” after Class 10 to keep options open but she says that she didn’t want to go for an ordinary course.