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However, he bemoaned that students nowadays write answers in exams in the most complex way, which nobody understands.
He was delivering a special lecture at a two-day national level seminar on ‘Upgrading the curriculum with the emerging trends in biosciences’ at St Philomena’s College here on Monday.
Observing that the art of teaching students to make discoveries has been lost, Dr D’Souza mentioned that students of the present generation memorise subjects and don’t even think twice about understanding basic concepts.
Dr D’Souza stressed on the need to inform students about the way discoveries were made, because they can then learn how great minds work. Despite huge technological advancements, we are still testing hypothesis put forward by scientists decades ago. But, we don’t dare question the veracity or try to formulate new ideas, he added.
He said that earlier, all great biologists were known to be excellent mathematicians, because they could analyse their research better. However, nowadays people chose biology because they dislike physics and maths. With increasing specialisation options available such as biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, Dr D’Souza expressed anguish that students are narrowing down to a certain area of research.
But, at the same time they fail to understand the impact of their studies on a broader perspective. “When recently a survey was conducted among II PUC students, asking them as to why they don’t want to pursue life sciences, they said, ‘Life science is a lifeless science’”.
He emphasised on the need to strengthen basic concepts among students. Leaving out on the basics and starting with relatively new concepts would only need to confusion, he added.
St Philomena’s Degree College Principal Fr Leslie Moras, Vice Principal Fr Bernard Prakash, HoD Botany, Prof A L Maria, Prof Orthbert Pinto and others were present.