Three regional science centres for State

An observatory in Nandi Hills is also in the pipeline, announced J Krishna Palemar, minister for  Science and Technology at the inauguration of the second State-level Science and Technology conference here on Thursday.

 Prof C N R Rao said that there was no classification between pure and applied science. There was only science, which was everywhere. He said that this classification existed only in India.

The three-day conference, organised by DST and Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology will focus on taking stock of the human resource development in the field of science and technology, as nothing much was done on this subject.

Quality of teaching must be included in the five year plans and must be given utmost importance, stressed Prof Rao. Until this is considered a priority, the economic growth of the country would be temporary.

On the last day, the recommendations made by the members in the panel discussion will be submitted to State Knowledge Commission and the planning commission at the Centre.

IISc director Prof P Balaram said IISc faculty and some eminent scientists had trained 100 science teachers on quality education in the institute's Chitradurga campus during February and March. The institute has tied up with government to organise similar training camps for science teachers across the State. "The training will happen once in two to three months for 100 teachers," he said.

Video conferencing facility will be used when important speakers deliver talks at the institute. For instance, during the first residential training course in February, the talk by National Security Advisor in IISc was beamed at the Chitradurga campus.