The craze for computer applications and software related subjects rather than pure sciences like mathematics continues among parents and students alike, despite Information Technology sector's vulnerability to the global situation that stood exposed more than once in the past.
Experts in mathematics warn parents against forcing children to specialise in computer and software-related fields, calling it a “dangerous trend.” Scope of opportunities to those specialising in computational techniques, one facet of applied math, is limited while those opting for pure science will have the field wide open for them, they say.
“Limiting students to a particular area is a short-sighted approach. There is no doubt short-term benefit of lucrative employment in undertaking software and computer related studies, but students specialising in a particular field will be found wanting, as technology advances and old systems become obsolete,” A.P. (Lex) Zandee, head of mathematics of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research said.
Dr. Zandee, who was here in connection with the International Congress of Mathematicians – 2010 told TheHindu that students taking pure math would be better placed in pure as well as application sectors, as they would be thorough with the concept of “abstract thinking.” A little training would be sufficient to harness their full potential.
German Research Foundation programme director for mathematics Frank Kiefer said “pure math, particularly in countries like India and China, held huge promise for youth as computation power alone is not enough to solve the complex problems that remained unresolved. There is a general feeling that maths is dull, dry and incomprehensible area and is confined to just calculations alone which is actually not the case.”
He said the only problem affecting the area was lack of transition and transfer of math application to industry. There was potential and it had to be ignited. However, unlike other subjects, where claims were made of speedy development, mathematics was a slow science and it needed time to evolve the concept, tools and languages.
“Several big problems like cancer, weather forecast and environment-related issues continue without solution. We are just holding small pieces of big puzzle and this can be solved only through mathematics that has immense scope of application in all the areas of our life,” he said.
