Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jun 18: Biotechnology department advisor to government of India, Dr A S Ninawe, felt that the economic condition of the society can be improved only when scientists and industries function in tandem.
He was addressing the participants of a programme, 'Academia-Industry Interaction Meet', held at Webinar room of Paneeru Campus at Deralakatte. This programme was held under the aegis of science education and research centre of Nitte University.
"Goats and sheep used to be major sources of income for the country in the past. Although the centre provides grant of only a few lacs of rupees for marine biotechnology every year, lot of changes and inventions have taken place in this segment. As a result, fisheries development, which was earlier confined only to Andhra Pradesh, has spread to many other states. This sector has been getting good revenue through export of prawns. Without the support of coordinated scientific applications, this sector would never have grown to this extent," he stated.
Dr I Karunasagar, who heads the workforce, asserted that for technologies to be commercialized and improved, scientists and industries have to work together. He said that biotechnology has been facing certain criticisms in the country. "Marine biotechnology has a large number of uses, but common people are not aware about them. Scientists and industries need to work in coordination with each other to create awareness among the people," he advised.
Nitte University vice chancellor, Prof Dr S Ramanand Shetty, who inaugurated the programme, felt that science and technology are like the heart of the society. He noted that the funds spent on research in the country happen to be a miniscule percentage of what USA spends. Programmes like workshops and get-togethers not only enhance knowledge, but also provide a forum for discussing serious issues facing the particular sectors.
Director of science education and research centre of Nitte University, Dr Indirani Karunagar, provided all the details about the centre at Nitte University.