“India is not competing with anyone in the field of space research. We’re just utilising the space for the benefit of mankind,” said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Director Dr B N Suresh.
Answering to a query on whether India is lagging behind in the field of space research during an interactive session with the students of Expert Pre-University Science College at Town Hall here on Thursday, he informed that ISRO is managing 8 satellites, which if switched off can bring the whole country to a complete halt.
“However,” he added, “India is currently in the fourth position in the world”.
Earlier, delivering a lecture, Dr Suresh gave the students a five point formula to achieve any goal- focus, clarity of thought, involvement, discipline and time management. Also, if you want to excel in science, you need to have curiosity, observation power and innovative (out of the box) thinking, he said and added that there are many out of the box ideas that were ridiculed by the society in the beginning, but changed our way of living once realised, citing the examples of aeroplane, nuclear bomb and telephone.
IT craze
Speaking about the advances in IT and students’ craze for it, he urged the students not to opt for a career they are not interested in and that there is excitement in all arena. “You should enjoy learning and co-relate to real life situations.
Expert Educational and Charitable Foundation Chairman Narendra L Nayak, Secretary Usha Prabha Nayak and Trustee Dr G Premkumar were present.

WANT TO JOIN ISRO ?

After all the discussion about space, earth, satellites and ISRO, a student couldn’t help asking about the qualifications to join ISRO. Dr Suresh, with a broad smile, informed about ISRO stepping into the education arena. Incidentally, there is one Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, a brain child of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and managed by ISRO, which offers bachelors courses in Space Science. The institute was founded recently owing to a dearth of qualified young scientists in ISRO. All you have to do is attend the IIT-JEE entrance, qualify within rank 2500 and you’ll be eligible to join the institute. Those selected will be given absolutely free education and a sure job at ISRO, compulsory for 5 years. To continue or not to is your choice.

UNENDING QUESTIONS


Do you believe in extra terrestrial life? Is the 10th planet a truth or rumour? Who can be called a scientist? Do you believe in the Big Bang theory? Is the universe expanding? What’s beyond the universe? Is it possible for human beings to go beyond the Solar system? Thus went the array of questions fired by the young guns of Expert PU College. Having got one of the country’s foremost scientists at hand, their doubts knew no boundaries.
Dr Suresh listened to each of them patiently and answered in a very simple language. He said he doesn’t believe in the existence of extra terrestrial life or the tenth planet.
Any theory or belief can be proved wrong later, as the man has not been able to uncover the secrets of the universe yet. No one can say for the time being what is beyond it. Also, it is not the universe that is expanding, but man’s knowledge of it, he explained.
He agreed with the idea of human beings travelling beyond the solar system one day. “The only obstacle before the scientists is to find out a material to build the space craft, which can withstand the 8000 degree C elcius heat created during the journey,” he added.